N.Y. Public Health Law § 924: Primary care service corps practitioner loan repayment program

§ 924. Primary care service corps practitioner loan repayment program.

1. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, sections one

hundred twelve and one hundred sixty-three of the state finance law, or

any other contrary provision of law, the commissioner is authorized,

within amounts available therefor, to make loan repayment awards to

eligible primary care service corps practitioners who agree to practice

full-time in an underserved area in New York state, in amounts to be

determined by the commissioner, but not to exceed thirty-two thousand

dollars per year for any year in which such practitioners provide

full-time eligible obligated service, without competitive bid or request

for proposal process.

2. Loan repayment awards made to a primary care service corps

practitioner pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall not

exceed the total qualifying outstanding debt of the practitioner from

student loans to cover tuition and other related educational expenses,

made by or guaranteed by the federal or state government, or made by a

lending or educational institution approved under title IV of the

federal higher education act. Loan repayment awards shall be used solely

to repay such outstanding debt.

3. In the event that any commitment pursuant to the agreement

referenced in subdivision one of this section is not fulfilled, the

recipient shall be responsible for repayment in amounts which shall be

calculated in accordance with the formula set forth in subdivision (b)

of section two hundred fifty-four-o of title forty-two of the United

States Code, as amended.

4. The commissioner is authorized to apply any funds available for

purposes of subdivision one of this section for use as matching funds

for any available federal grants for the purpose of assisting states in

operating loan repayment programs.

5. The commissioner may postpone, change or waive the service

obligation and repayments amounts set forth in subdivisions one and

three of this section, respectively, in individual circumstances where

there is compelling need or hardship.

6. In order to be eligible to receive a loan repayment award under

this section, a primary care service corps practitioner must meet site

and service eligibility criteria as determined by the commissioner.

7. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations necessary to

effectuate the provisions and purposes of this article.