The Health Professional Loan Repayment Amendment Act of 2026 aims to expand the eligibility of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) to include certified addiction counselors, thereby enhancing the recruitment of health professionals in the District of Columbia. The bill amends the District of Columbia Health Professional Recruitment Program Act of 2005 to clarify that participants can receive up to 100% of their total debt repaid, with specific maximum amounts based on the type of health professional license held. Additionally, it grants the Director of the Department of Health the authority to adjust repayment amounts and allocation procedures according to available funding, ensuring the program can effectively address health care access in underserved areas.

The legislation also modifies the repayment structure by replacing the statutory annual repayment schedule with a regulatory one, allowing for more flexibility in managing the program. Key amendments include the removal of the phrase "or physician assistants" and the insertion of "physician assistants, or certified addiction counselors" to broaden the definition of eligible health professionals. Furthermore, the bill establishes a new subsection that allows the Mayor to annually increase the maximum loan repayment amounts based on the consumer price index, ensuring that the program remains responsive to economic changes.