BILL NUMBER: S5071
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the maximum amount
of individual awards for the physician loan repayment program and physi-
cian practice support program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase the amount of money that is awarded for the physician loan
repayment program and the physician practice support program.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 increases the amount of the Physician Loan Repayment Program
award from $150,000 to $250,000.
Section 2 increases the amount of the Physician Practice Support Program
award.
Section 3 marks the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Doctors Across New York program has been successful in attracting
physicians to underserved areas throughout the state. Unfortunately, New
York is still experiencing doctor shortages in regions both urban and
rural. Additionally, the increasing cost of higher education has simi-
larly affected those who are looking to attend medical school; the high
cost of an medical school education is forcing individuals seeking to
practice medicine to into more lucrative concentrations at the expense
of general/family medicine.
This bill seeks to further incentivize aspiring doctors to go into
general/family practice by increasing the awards provided to them
through the Doctors Across New York program. Physicians working in the
field of general/family practice are at the fore of an individual's care
and it is important that the state grow the number of physicians working
in this field. By increasing the award amounts that are offered through
Doctors Across New York, the state can increase the number of physicians
working in the general/family field of practice and reduce - and eventu-
ally eliminate - the number of underserved areas that exist in New York.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24-S.4227- Health Committee
2021-22 - S. 4267/A. 1016 - Health Committee
2019-20 - S. 5662/A. 10274 - Health Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

Statutes affected:
S5071: 2807-m public health law, 2807-m(10) public health law, 2807-m(12) public health law