Norton Bill Will Increase Many Health Care Specialists in D.C. (6/8/07)

Washington, DC-- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) got a bill in the hopper and introduced as Congress left town last night to give D.C residents access to the State Loan Repayment Program that provides health care professionals to underserved communities. The District of Columbia Loan Repayment Equity Technical Amendment Act of 2007 will make the District eligible to receive assistance through the Public Health Service Act grants system, under which primary health care professionals can have their school loans forgiven in exchange for two years of full-time service in shortage areas as identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"I am delighted that this bill includes dentists and this complements my bill introduced last month to create a loan forgiveness program for dental school graduates who agree to serve the poor and HIV populations," Norton said. Today's bill includes many health specialties for underserved communities, where there are scarcities, from osteopathic physicians and social workers, to psychiatric nurses and dental assistants. The District could not participate in the program until last year because it did not have the required matching program. Now that the city has taken steps, Norton's bill will allow the District to compete for federal funds exactly as other states compete for these grants. The federal government provides up to 50 percent of the funds to make loan repayments to primary health care clinicians. The remaining 50 percent of the funding comes from state and local resources.

Norton said, "It would be penny wise and pound foolish for the District to pass up a program that would get badly needed health care providers if the city provides a matching loan forgiveness program that has proved highly effective in not only getting health professionals to serve, but to stay with undeserved communities."