A. 1. The Physician Manpower Training Commission shall administer the Oklahoma Medical Loan Repayment Program.

2. For the purposes of this section, "primary care physicians" shall mean physicians practicing in family medicine, geriatrics, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or emergency medicine.

3. For the purposes of this section, "health center" shall mean a federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C., Section 1905(1)(2)(B).

4. For the purposes of this section, "teaching health center" shall mean a health center that supports the residencies of primary care physicians within the operations of the health center.

5. The Program, depending upon and limited to available funding, shall provide educational loan repayment assistance to Oklahoma licensed primary care physicians and physician assistants who agree to establish a practice in a community located in Oklahoma approved by the Commission.

6. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the participant at the end of each contract year with disbursements not to exceed an amount to be established annually by the Commission. Prior to any disbursement, the Commission shall certify and properly review reports submitted by the participating physician or physician assistant detailing performance of activities in accordance with the Program.

7. The Commission shall review the performance in the Program of the participating physician or physician assistant and determine whether an award may be granted for additional years pursuant to rules promulgated by the Commission.

B. The physicians and physician assistants entering the Program each year shall agree to provide medical care and services in areas designated by the Commission to provide medical care and services to Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

C. A physician or physician assistant shall be eligible to participate in the loan repayment program if the individual:

1. Is a physician that holds a current Oklahoma medical license;

2. Is a new primary care graduate physician or physician assistant. Preference will be given to graduates of the primary care residency programs affiliated with the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and the teaching hospitals affiliated with both schools of medicine and teaching health centers located in this state; or

3. Is a current practicing physician or physician assistant and has met criteria established by the Commission.

D. The Commission may accept donations of public or private funds to assist in funding the Medical Loan Repayment Program. The Commission may, at its discretion, contract with other public entities and non-profit corporations for the endowment, management and administration of such funds.

E. The Commission shall present a report on the operation of the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate 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.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 292, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2010. Amended by Laws 2011, c. 33, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2016, c. 22, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2018, c. 286, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.