67-5339. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. (1) There is hereby created an educational loan repayment program for eligible physicians, psychologists and mid-level practitioners at state hospital north and state hospital south.

(2) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "Mid-level practitioner" means a position at state hospital north or state hospital south that is licensed as a nurse practitioner pursuant to chapter 14, title 54, Idaho Code, or as a physician assistant pursuant to chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code.

(b) "Physician" means a physician at state hospital north or state hospital south that is licensed to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code.

(c) "Psychologist" means a psychologist at state hospital north or state hospital south that is licensed to practice psychology pursuant to chapter 23, title 54, Idaho Code.

(3) The educational loan repayment program shall be subject to appropriation by the Idaho legislature.

(4) The educational loan repayment program shall be limited to the repayment of outstanding loans accrued prior to employment in a qualifying job class for undergraduate, graduate and medical school incurred by physicians, psychologists or mid-level practitioners who are eligible for the program under the provisions of this section.

(5) There is hereby created a state hospital governing body. The state hospital governing body shall have the responsibility to oversee the educational loan repayment program and the authority to offer loan repayment disbursements under the program and shall annually review each loan repayment agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (6) of this section and determine whether continuation of the loan repayment program for each participating employee shall occur based upon the number of program participants and the availability of funds. The state hospital governing body shall consist of the administrator of the division of behavioral health, the hospital administrator of state hospital south, the president of the medical staff at state hospital south and the hospital administrator of state hospital north. The administrator of the division of behavioral health shall be the chair of the state hospital governing body.

(6) Employees eligible for loan repayment under the provisions of this section shall be required to enter into an agreement with the state hospital governing body each year a loan repayment disbursement is offered. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Disclosure of the employee’s current student loan balance;

(b) Affirmation by the hospital that the employee has provided no less than two thousand eighty (2,080) credited state service hours prior to first disbursement and that the employee has obtained satisfactory performance standards during this time;

(c) Affirmation that any subsequent disbursements occur one (1) year or two thousand eighty (2,080) credited state service hours after the previous disbursement and that the employee has obtained satisfactory performance standards during this time; and

(d) Confirmation that any prior disbursements made under this program were used to pay outstanding student loans.

(7) Loan repayment disbursements made pursuant to this section shall be limited to a period of four (4) years.

(8) Loan repayment disbursements made pursuant to this section shall be made as follows:

(a) For physician reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible physician not to exceed:

(i) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;

(ii) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;

(iii) Twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and

(iv) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.

(b) For psychologist reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible psychologist not to exceed:

(i) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;

(ii) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;

(iii) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and

(iv) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.

(c) For mid-level practitioner reimbursements, a single yearly reimbursement may be made to or on behalf of an eligible mid-level practitioner not to exceed:

(i) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s first year of eligibility;

(ii) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the employee’s second year of eligibility;

(iii) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s third year of eligibility; and

(iv) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the employee’s fourth year of eligibility.

History:

[67-5339, added 2014, ch. 279, sec. 1, p. 705.]