House Bill 2248 aims to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 49-9-706, to enhance the administration of the family medicine student loan repayment program. The bill proposes to delete the existing subsection (d) and replace it with new provisions that outline the responsibilities of the Department of Health in managing the program. It allows the department to either administer the program directly or contract with a nonprofit organization that meets specific criteria, including being a 501(c)(3) organization, maintaining a principal office in Tennessee, and being affiliated with a nonprofit membership organization of family physicians, residents, and medical students.

Additionally, the bill empowers the Department of Health, in consultation with relevant educational and medical boards, to establish rules for the program's management and administration, ensuring compliance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. This legislative change is intended to incentivize physicians to provide health services in underserved areas by facilitating loan repayment options for family medicine students. The act will take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of addressing healthcare access in these communities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-9-706