Sec. 6. To be eligible for a grant, a dentist or dental hygienist must meet all the following conditions:

(1) Hold a license to practice as a dentist under this article or as a dental hygienist under IC 25-13-1.

(2) Has entered into an agreement with the committee to:

(A) either:

(i) commit to working five (5) years in an underserved area or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana for a yearly grant of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000); or

(ii) commit to working two (2) years in an underserved area or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana for a yearly grant of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) with the option by the dentist or dental hygienist to serve up to three (3) additional years for a yearly grant of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000);

(B) provide an average of at least forty (40) hours of dentistry per week in underserved areas or as a minority dentist or dental hygienist in Indiana;

(C) maintain a patient base that includes at least thirty percent (30%) as Medicaid patients; and

(D) provide a sliding fee scale, as approved by the committee, for low income patients.

(3) Has entered into an agreement with the committee that if the dentist or dental hygienist does not comply with the requirements in subdivision (2) that the dentist or dental hygienist will pay back to the committee seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), plus interest, for each month that the dentist or dental hygienist did not serve or had left to serve under the terms of the agreement.

As added by P.L.177-2009, SEC.34. Amended by P.L.1-2010, SEC.106.