560.183(2)(a)(a) The department may repay, on behalf of a physician, up to $50,000 in educational loans obtained by the physician from a public or private lending institution for education in an accredited school of medicine or for postgraduate medical training.
560.183(2)(b)
(b) A physician who is a participant in the national health service corps scholarship program under
42 USC 254n, or a physician who was a participant in that program and who failed to carry out his or her obligations under that program, is not eligible for loan repayment under this section.
560.183(3)(a)(a) The department shall enter into a written agreement with the physician. In the agreement, the physician shall agree to practice at least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this state, except that a physician specializing in psychiatry may only agree to practice psychiatry in a mental health shortage area and a physician in the expanded loan assistance program under
sub. (9) may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area. The physician shall also agree to care for patients who are insured or for whom health benefits are payable under medicare, medical assistance or any other governmental program.
560.183(3)(b)
(b) The agreement shall specify that the responsibility of the department to make the payments under the agreement is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jm) and
(kr).
560.183(4)
(4) Loan repayment. Principal and interest due on loans, exclusive of any penalties, may be repaid by the department at the following rate:
560.183(4)(a)
(a) Up to 40% of the principal of the loan or $20,000, whichever is less, during the first year of participation in the program under this section.
560.183(4)(b)
(b) Up to an additional 40% of the principal of the loan or $20,000, whichever is less, during the 2nd year of participation in the program under this section.
560.183(4)(c)
(c) Up to an additional 20% of the principal of the loan or $10,000, whichever is less, during the 3rd year of participation in the program under this section.
560.183(5)
(5) Availability of funds; right of action against state. 560.183(5)(a)(a) The obligation of the department to make payments under an agreement entered into under
sub. (3) (b) is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jm) and
(kr).
560.183(5)(b)
(b) If the cost of repaying the loans of all eligible applicants, when added to the cost of loan repayments scheduled under existing agreements, exceeds the total amount in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jm) and
(kr), the department shall establish priorities among the eligible applicants based upon the following considerations:
560.183(5)(b)1.
1. The degree to which there is an extremely high need for medical care in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which the physician desires to practice.
560.183(5)(b)2.
2. The likelihood that a physician will remain in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which he or she desires to practice after the loan repayment period.
560.183(5)(b)3.
3. The per capita income of the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which a physician desires to practice.
560.183(5)(b)4.
4. The financial or other support for physician recruitment and retention provided by individuals, organizations, or local governments in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which a physician desires to practice.
560.183(5)(b)5.
5. The geographic distribution of the physicians who have entered into loan repayment agreements under this section and the geographic distribution of the eligible practice areas or health professional shortage areas in which the eligible applicants desire to practice.
560.183(5)(b)6.
6. Other considerations that the department may specify by rule.
560.183(5)(d)
(d) An agreement under
sub. (3) does not create a right of action against the state on the part of the physician or the lending institution for failure to make the payments specified in the agreement.
560.183(6)
(6) Local participation. The department shall encourage contributions to the program under this section by counties, cities, villages and towns. Funds received under this subsection shall be deposited in the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (jm).
560.183(6m)(a)(a) The department shall, by rule, establish penalties to be assessed by the department against physicians who breach an agreement entered into under
sub. (3) (a). The rules shall do all of the following:
560.183(6m)(a)3.
3. Provide exceptions for certain actions, including breaches resulting from death or disability.
560.183(6m)(b)
(b) Any penalties assessed and collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc).
560.183(8)
(8) Administrative contract. From the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (kr), the department shall contract with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System for administrative services from the office of rural health of the department of professional and community development of the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Under the contract, the office of rural health shall do all of the following:
560.183(8)(b)
(b) Advise the department and rural health development council on the identification of eligible practice areas with an extremely high need for medical care.
560.183(8)(d)
(d) Assist the department to publicize the program under this section to physicians and eligible communities.
560.183(8)(e)
(e) Assist physicians who are interested in applying for the program under this section.
560.183(8)(f)
(f) Assist communities in obtaining physicians' services through the program under this section.
560.183(8)(g)
(g) Assist the department with the general operation of the program under this section.
560.183(9)
(9) Expanded loan assistance program. The department may agree to repay loans as provided under this section on behalf of a physician under an expanded physician loan assistance program that is funded through federal funds in addition to state matching funds. To be eligible for loan repayment under the expanded physician loan assistance program, a physician must fulfill all of the requirements for loan repayment under this section, as well as all of the following:
560.183(9)(b)
(b) The physician may not have a judgment lien against his or her property for a debt to the United States.
560.183(9)(c)
(c) The physician must agree to do all of the following:
560.183(9)(c)1.
1. Accept medicare assignment as payment in full for services or articles provided.
560.183(9)(c)2.
2. Use a sliding fee scale or a comparable method of determining payment arrangements for patients who are not eligible for medicare or medical assistance and who are unable to pay the customary fee for the physician's services.
560.183(9)(c)3.
3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area.
560.184
560.184
Health care provider loan assistance program. 560.184(1)(ad)
(ad) "Council" means the rural health development council.
560.184(1)(am)
(am) "Eligible practice area" means a primary care shortage area, an American Indian reservation or trust lands of an American Indian tribe.
560.184(1)(b)
(b) "Health care provider" means a physician assistant, nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner.
560.184(2)
(2) Eligibility. The department may repay, on behalf of a health care provider, up to $25,000 in educational loans obtained by the health care provider from a public or private lending institution for education related to the health care provider's field of practice, as determined by the department with the advice of the council.
560.184(3)(a)(a) The department shall enter into a written agreement with the health care provider. In the agreement, the health care provider shall agree to practice at least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this state, except that a health care provider in the expanded loan assistance program under
sub. (8) may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area.
560.184(3)(b)
(b) The agreement shall specify that the responsibility of the department to make the payments under the agreement is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jL) and
(kr).
560.184(4)
(4) Loan repayment. Principal and interest due on loans, exclusive of any penalties, may be repaid by the department at the following rate:
560.184(4)(a)
(a) Up to 40% of the principal of the loan or $10,000, whichever is less, during the first year of participation in the program under this section.
560.184(4)(b)
(b) Up to an additional 40% of the principal of the loan or $10,000, whichever is less, during the 2nd year of participation in the program under this section.
560.184(4)(c)
(c) Up to an additional 20% of the principal of the loan or $5,000, whichever is less, during the 3rd year of participation in the program under this section.
560.184(5)
(5) Availability of funds; right of action against state. 560.184(5)(a)(a) The obligation of the department to make payments under an agreement entered into under
sub. (3) is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jL) and
(kr).
560.184(5)(b)
(b) If the cost of repaying the loans of all eligible applicants, when added to the cost of loan repayments scheduled under existing agreements, exceeds the total amount in the appropriations under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc),
(jL) and
(kr), the department shall establish priorities among the eligible applicants based upon the following considerations:
560.184(5)(b)1.
1. The degree to which there is an extremely high need for medical care in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which an eligible applicant desires to practice.
560.184(5)(b)2.
2. The likelihood that an eligible applicant will remain in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which he or she desires to practice after the loan repayment period.
560.184(5)(b)3.
3. The per capita income of the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which an eligible applicant desires to practice.
560.184(5)(b)4.
4. The financial or other support for health care provider recruitment and retention provided by individuals, organizations or local governments in the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which an eligible applicant desires to practice.
560.184(5)(b)5.
5. The geographic distribution of the health care providers who have entered into loan repayment agreements under this section and the geographic location of the eligible practice area or health professional shortage area in which an eligible applicant desires to practice.
560.184(5)(b)6.
6. Other considerations that the department may specify by rule.
560.184(5)(c)
(c) An agreement under
sub. (3) does not create a right of action against the state on the part of the health care provider or the lending institution for failure to make the payments specified in the agreement.
560.184(6)
(6) Local participation. The department shall encourage contributions to the program under this section by counties, cities, villages and towns. Funds received under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.143 (1) (jL).
560.184(6m)(a)(a) The department shall, by rule, establish penalties to be assessed by the department against health care providers who breach an agreement entered into under
sub. (3) (a). The rules shall do all of the following:
560.184(6m)(a)3.
3. Provide exceptions for certain actions, including breaches resulting from death or disability.
560.184(6m)(b)
(b) Any penalties assessed and collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.143 (1) (jc).
560.184(7)
(7) Administrative contract. From the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (kr), the department shall contract with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System for administrative services from the office of rural health of the department of professional and community development of the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Under the contract, the office of rural health shall do all of the following:
560.184(7)(a)
(a) Advise the department and council on the identification of communities with an extremely high need for health care.
560.184(7)(b)
(b) Assist the department to publicize the program under this section to health care providers and eligible communities.
560.184(7)(c)
(c) Assist health care providers who are interested in applying for the program under this section.
560.184(7)(d)
(d) Assist communities in obtaining the services of health care providers through the program under this section.
560.184(7)(e)
(e) Assist the department with the general operation of the program under this section.
560.184(8)
(8) Expanded loan assistance program. The department may agree to repay loans as provided under this section on behalf of a health care provider under an expanded health care provider loan assistance program that is funded through federal funds in addition to state matching funds. To be eligible for loan repayment under the expanded health care provider loan assistance program, a health care provider must fulfill all of the requirements for loan repayment under this section, as well as all of the following:
560.184(8)(a)
(a) The health care provider must be a U.S. citizen.
560.184(8)(b)
(b) The health care provider may not have a judgment lien against his or her property for a debt to the United States.
560.184(8)(c)
(c) The health care provider must agree to do all of the following:
560.184(8)(c)1.
1. Accept medicare assignment as payment in full for services or articles provided.
560.184(8)(c)2.
2. Use a sliding fee scale or a comparable method of determining payment arrangements for patients who are not eligible for medicare or medical assistance and who are unable to pay the customary fee for the physician's services.
560.184(8)(c)3.
3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area.
560.185
560.185
Rural health development council. The rural health development council created under
s. 15.157 (8) shall do all of the following:
560.185(1)
(1) Advise the department on matters related to the physician loan assistance program under
s. 560.183 and the health care provider loan assistance program under
s. 560.184.
