Legislative Analysis
ESSENTIAL HEALTH PROVIDER REPAYMENT PROGRAM Phone: (517) 373-8080
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 6010 as reported Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. John Fitzgerald http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Regulatory Reform
Complete to 12-13-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 6010 would amend the Public Health Code to include public health graduate degree
programs in the Essential Health Provider Repayment Program.
The code requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to administer the
program to repay certain designated professionals for debt or expenses as a result of a loan
taken to attend certain medical programs if they enter into a written contract to provide full-
time practice of health care services in a health resource shortage area, to which they are
assigned by the department for a period specified in the contract of at least two years.
The bill would add public health graduate degree programs to those that are eligible for the
program under the act.
Public health graduate degree program would mean an accredited program for the
training of individuals to become medical directors of local health departments through
the completion of one of the following degrees:
• Master of public health.
• Master of science in public health.
The bill would also add individuals who are qualified in public health to those who can be
recruited by DHHS for the program.
MCL 333.2701 et seq.
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
According to committee testimony, the bill would enable local health departments to better
recruit and retain local medical directors. Supporters testified that without the program, the
educational expenses associated with becoming qualified to serve in these positions present a
significant barrier.
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 6010 would increase state expenditures to the Department of Health and Human
Services by an indeterminate amount and have no fiscal impact on local units of government.
The fiscal impact of the bill would be dependent on the number of individuals seeking a
graduate degree in public health who apply for the loan repayment program provided by the
state in exchange for a two-year service obligation. Under the provisions of the bill, the amount
of debt repayment the department can provide to an eligible applicant is up to $40,000 per year,
with a maximum amount of $300,000 allowed over the course of 10 years.
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the following entities testified in support of the bill (12-10-24):
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Michigan Association for Local Public Health
Legislative Analyst: Alex Stegbauer
Fiscal Analyst: Sydney Brown
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HB 6010 as reported Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.2701