Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), Republican chair of the House Health Committee, announced her bill to provide financial incentives to recruit rural healthcare providers has unanimously passed the House Health Committee. House Bill 157, the reintroduction of House Bill 2382 from last session, would create the Rural Health Care Grant Program, which would allow specified facilities, including Federal Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to help certain providers in paying off their student loans. To be eligible to receive grant dollars, House Bill 157 would require: licensed nurses, physicians, midwives, dentists and dental hygienists to begin practicing at a rural hospital, FQHC, rural health clinic, or birth center within six months of accepting a position; be classified as full-time by working 30 hours or more per week, or 130 hours per month; and work in the facility for a minimum of three years.
