The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1501, subdivision 1, to expand the eligibility criteria for physician and medical resident loan forgiveness under the health professional education loan forgiveness program. Specifically, it adds "emergency medicine" to the list of medical residency specialties eligible for loan forgiveness, which previously included family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. Additionally, the definition of "physician" is updated to include those practicing in "emergency medicine" and "hospitalist medicine," thereby broadening the scope of eligible physicians for the program.

These changes aim to encourage more healthcare professionals to serve in underserved areas by providing financial relief through loan forgiveness. By including emergency medicine in both the medical residency and physician definitions, the bill recognizes the critical role of emergency medicine practitioners in the healthcare system and seeks to attract more individuals to this specialty, particularly in rural and underserved urban communities.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 144.1501