ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0

HB 2126: rural providers; loan repayment program

Sponsor: Representative Osborne, LD 13

Caucus & Cow

Overview

Stipulates that an applicant for the Rural Private Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (Program) who works at an Indian health service or tribal facility is not required to provide a sliding fee scale to be eligible for the Program.

History

The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) is required to establish the Program for physicians, dentists, pharmacists, behavioral health providers and advance practice providers with current or prospective rural primary care practices located in federally designated health professional shortage areas or medical underserved areas in Arizona.

To participate in the Program, an applicant must agree to provide organized, discounted, sliding fee scale services for medically uninsured individuals from families with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line. DHS is required to approve the sliding fee scale used by the provider. The provider is required to notify consumers of the availability of these services. (A.R.S. § 36-2174)

Statue requires DHS to designate areas of medical need as medically underserved if: 1) the area is designated as a health professional shortage area as defined by federal law; or 2) the area is designated as medically underserved by DHS utilizing an index that measures specified indicators (A.R.S. § 36-2352).

Provisions

1. Stipulates that an applicant for the Program who works at an Indian health service or tribal facility is not required to provide a sliding fee scale to be eligible for the Program. (Sec. 1)

2. Provides a rulemaking exemption for the Department of Health Services for 18 months after the effective date of the bill. (Sec. 2)

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6. HB 2126

7. Initials EB Page 0 Caucus & COW

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