Report Title:
Healthcare Professionals Incentive; Tuition Reimbursement
Description:
Establishes a tuition reimbursement program within the University of Hawaii as an incentive for healthcare professionals to provide three years' service on the neighbor islands.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2618 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to health care professionals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a serious crisis in medical and dental services in the neighbor islands, particularly for the Med-QUEST and uninsured population. This growing crisis is due to the severe shortage of healthcare providers. The increase in medical malpractice insurance premiums in conjunction with salaries that are ten to twenty per cent lower than on the mainland discourages healthcare professionals from practicing medicine and dentistry in the neighbor islands. Geographic isolation, lack of educational opportunities for providers and their families, and low reimbursement for medical services are other factors contributing to the shortage. The legislature further finds that an incentive program needs to be extended to healthcare professionals to maximize the availability of quality healthcare in the neighbor islands and encourage more healthcare professionals to treat the Med-QUEST and uninsured population.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a tuition reimbursement program for University of Hawaii students and graduates in healthcare-related fields requiring them to serve on a neighbor island for a minimum of three consecutive years.
SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§304- Healthcare professionals incentive program; tuition reimbursement. (a) There is established a tuition reimbursement program within the University of Hawaii to provide tuition reimbursement to University of Hawaii students and graduates in exchange for three consecutive years of service in a healthcare-related field on a neighbor island.
(b) The board of regents shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section. The rules shall address the following concerns:
(1) Minimum qualifications of applicants;
(2) Application procedures;
(3) Criteria for establishing an approved curriculum which meets the intent of this section; including curricula in nursing, medicine, pharmacology, psychology, psychiatry, social work, speech pathology, dentistry, and dental hygiene;
(4) The amount of tuition reimbursement available each year;
(5) Criteria for fulfilling an applicant's obligation in the healthcare field;
(6) Payback criteria and procedures for an applicant who does not fulfill the obligation of three consecutive years of healthcare service on the neighbor islands; provided that the applicant shall not pay less than the tuition for which the applicant was reimbursed;
(7) Exceptions to payback provisions;
(8) The limitation, suspension, or revocation of reimbursements; and
(9) Sanctions against violators of this section or any rule adopted pursuant to this section.
(c) The tuition reimbursement granted under this section is not cumulative and may not be granted to an applicant who is the recipient of another tuition waiver or reimbursement from the State."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the purpose of this Act.
SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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