EDUC-PHYSICIANS-LOAN REPAYMENT

Amends the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. To address the shortage of obstetrical services in rural communities, provides that a physician who provides obstetrical care and works at a privately owned rural health clinic in this State may qualify for assistance under the Act if all other established criteria are met. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 110 ILCS 949/27 new Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2310/2310-220 was 20 ILCS 2310/55.73 110 ILCS 935/1 from Ch. 144, par. 1451 110 ILCS 935/3.04 from Ch. 144, par. 1453.04 110 ILCS 935/3.09 110 ILCS 970/1-20 from Ch. 144, par. 2781-20 110 ILCS 980/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2703 305 ILCS 5/12-4.24a from Ch. 23, par. 12-4.24a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Underserved Physician Workforce Act. Provides that the Act may be cited as the Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Act (rather than the Underserved Physician Workforce Act). Adds a government-owned, privately owned, independent, or provider-based Rural Health Clinic or hospital that accepts Medicaid patients and assists patients who are uninsured to qualify for Medicaid or develop a discount payment plan to the definition of "designated shortage area". Makes changes to the definition of "eligible health care provider". Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Nurses in Advancement Law, the Private Medical Scholarship Agreement Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to make related changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1, with the following changes. With respect to the definition of "Designated Shortage Area" in the Underserved Physician Workforce Act, adds a government-owned, privately owned, independent, or provider-based Rural Health Clinic or hospital that accepts Medicaid, Medicare, the State's Children's Health Insurance Program, private insurance, and self-pay (rather than a government-owned, privately owned, independent, or provider-based Rural Health Clinic or hospital that accepts Medicaid patients and assists patients who are uninsured to qualify for Medicaid or develop a discount payment plan, or both, according to financial need). Changes the definition of "eligible health care provider" to mean a primary care physician, general surgeon, emergency medicine physician, obstetrician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant who accepts Medicaid, Medicare, the State's Children's Health Insurance Program, private insurance, and self-pay (rather than a primary care physician, general surgeon, emergency medicine physician, obstetrician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant who accepts Medicaid patients or develops a discount payment plan, or both, for patients according to financial need). Effective immediately.