The bill H. 3025 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by modifying Section 43-21-200, which pertains to the Geriatric Physician Loan Forgiveness Program. The proposed changes include expanding the pool of eligible health professionals who can participate in the program and increasing the total amount of reimbursable loans. Specifically, the bill allows for a total reimbursement of up to fifty thousand dollars per physician, which is an increase from the previous limit of thirty-five thousand dollars, and this amount is multiplied by the number of years of fellowship completed.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that a physician must enter into a contract with the department, agreeing to practice in South Carolina for at least five consecutive years after completing their fellowship, accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, and adhere to certain reimbursement and non-discrimination requirements. The program will continue to limit participation to no more than four physicians or qualified health professionals per year unless additional funding becomes available. The bill is set to take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 43-21-200
Latest Version: 43-21-200
12/06/2024: 43-21-200