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Amend HB 2154 on page 2 by striking lines 5 through 11 and
substituting the following:
ACCOUNT. The physician education loan repayment program account is
an account in the general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
(1) gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
(2) earnings on the principal of the fund; and
(3) other amounts deposited to the credit of the fund,
including:
(A) legislative appropriations; and
(B) money deposited under Section 155.2415, Tax
Code.
(b) Money in the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose
except as provided by this section. Money in the funds shall be
used to recruit and retain physicians in health professional
shortage areas.
(c) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance, a
physician must:
(1) apply to the board;
(2) be licensed in this state in the appropriate field
of practice;
(3) have completed one, two, three, or four consecutive
years of practice in a health professional shortage area designated
by the department; and
(4) provide health care services to:
(A) recipients under the medical assistance
program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; or
(B) enrollees under the child health plan program
authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code.
(d) A physician may receive repayment assistance under this
subchapter in the amount determined by board rule, not to exceed the
following amounts for each year for which the physician establishes
eligibility for the assistance:
(1) for the first year, $25,000;
(2) for the second year, $35,000;
(3) for the third year, $45,000; and
(4) for the fourth year, $55,000.
(e) A physician may not receive repayment assistance under
this subchapter for more than four consecutive years.