Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-2731: Assistance for providers in Health Professional

Shortage Areas - Requirements.

A. 1. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Services shall administer the Oklahoma Mental Health Loan Repayment

Program.

2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide

educational loan repayment assistance for mental health or substance

abuse treatment providers who provide services in Health

Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for mental health.

3. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be

distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the

participant and the appropriate loan agency following a completed

year of service. Prior to any disbursement, the Department shall

certify and properly review reports submitted by the participating

provider detailing performance of activities in accordance with this

act.

4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the

Department shall review the performance in the Program of the

participating mental health or substance abuse provider and

determine whether an award may be granted for an additional period

not to exceed a total participation in the Program of five (5) years

pursuant to rules promulgated by the Board of Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Services.

B. Any participating mental health or substance abuse treatment

provider shall agree to provide mental health or substance abuse

treatment services to Medicaid recipients as authorized by the

Oklahoma Health Care Authority and individuals lacking health

insurance coverage. The Department of Mental Health and Substance

Abuse Services shall be responsible for ensuring that at least

twenty-five percent (25%) of the patients treated by the provider

are Medicaid beneficiaries, uninsured, or a combination of Medicaid

and uninsured recipients.

C. The mental health or substance abuse treatment provider

shall execute a contract with the Department to provide mental

health or substance abuse treatment services pursuant to the terms

of the contract and in accordance with rules promulgated by the

Board.

D. The Department shall present a report on the operation of

the Program to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate

and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within one (1) month

of the beginning of each regular session of the Legislature,

including but not limited to the progress made in accomplishing the

goal of the Program.