What's happening
This bill expands the Doctors Across New York program to include physicians serving geriatric populations, not just underserved communities.
Why it matters
Addresses New York’s aging population. by incentivizing more doctors to serve geriatric patients, responding to the state’s demographic shift toward a larger elderly population with complex healthcare needs.
Expands eligibility for student loan repayment and recruitment funding. to physicians who work with geriatric populations, not just those in traditionally underserved geographic communities, potentially improving access and continuity of care for seniors statewide.
Allows the Health Commissioner flexibility. in defining what constitutes a “geriatric population” or relevant service area, enabling targeted support where elderly care shortages are most acute or emerging.
May encourage hospitals and healthcare providers. to develop or expand geriatric care programs, knowing they can access state support for recruiting and retaining physicians in this specialty, which could enhance both the quality and reach of senior healthcare services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Forgive Loans for Elderly Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6033
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to expanding the Doctors Across New York program to physicians who serve geriatric populations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (d) of subdivision 5-a of section 2807-m of the public health law, as amended by section 9 of part B of chapter 60 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
(i) Funding shall first be awarded to repay loans of up to twenty-five physicians who train in primary care or specialty tracks in teaching general hospitals, and who enter and remain in primary care or specialty practices in underserved communities or serving geriatric populations, as determined by the commissioner.
(ii) After distributions in accordance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, all remaining funds shall be awarded to repay loans of physicians who enter and remain in primary care or specialty practices in underserved communities or serving geriatric populations, as determined by the commissioner, including but not limited to physicians working in general hospitals, or other health care facilities.
§ 2. Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (e) of subdivision 5-a of section 2807-m of the public health law, as amended by section 9 of part B of chapter 60 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
(i) Preference in funding shall first be accorded to teaching general hospitals for up to twenty-five awards, to support costs incurred by physicians trained in primary or specialty tracks who thereafter establish or join practices in underserved communities or in geriatric populations, as determined by the commissioner.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09621-01-7
A. 6033 2
(ii) After distributions in accordance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, all remaining funds shall be awarded to physicians to support the cost of establishing or joining practices in underserved communities or in geriatric populations, as determined by the commissioner, and to hospitals and other health care providers to recruit new physicians to provide services in underserved communities or in geriatric populations, as determined by the commissioner.
§ 3. Paragraphs (a) and (f) of subdivision 10 of section 2807-m of the public health law, paragraph (a) as amended by section 13 of part B of chapter 58 of the laws of 2010 and paragraph (f) as added by section 75-e of part C of chapter 58 of the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Beginning January first, two thousand eight, the commissioner is authorized, within amounts available pursuant to subdivision five-a of this section, to make loan repayment awards to primary care physicians or other physician specialties determined by the commissioner to be in short supply, licensed to practice medicine in New York state, who agree to practice for at least five years in an underserved area or to serve a geriatric population, as determined by the commissioner. Such physician shall be eligible for a loan repayment award of up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars over a five year period distributed as follows: fifteen percent of total loan debt not to exceed twenty thousand dollars for the first year; fifteen percent of total loan debt not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars for the second year; twenty percent of total loan debt not to exceed thirty-five thousand dollars for the third year; and twenty-five percent of total loan debt not to exceed thirty-five thousand dollars per year for the fourth year; and any unpaid balance of the total loan debt not to exceed the maximum award amount for the fifth year of practice in such area.
(f)(i) When a physician is not actually practicing in an underserved area or in a geriatric population, he or she shall be deemed to be practicing in an underserved area or in a geriatric population if he or she practices in a facility or physician's office that primarily serves an underserved population as determined by the commissioner, without regard to whether the population or the facility or physician's office is located in an underserved area or in an area with a geriatric population.
(ii) In making criteria and determinations as to whether an area is an underserved area or in an area with a geriatric population or whether a facility or physician's office primarily serves an underserved population, the commissioner may make separate criteria and determinations for different specialties.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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