560.17(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (am), the department shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans and assist the board under this section. The board shall act on an application for a grant or loan at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the department determines that the application is complete.
560.17(7)(am)
(am) The department of commerce and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans for purposes related to agricultural businesses and to make recommendations and assist the board with respect to those applications.
560.17(7)(b)
(b) The board or department shall deposit all interest or principal payments received for loans made under this section in the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (ir).
560.17(7)(d)
(d) The department or board may not limit the time period during which applications for grants and loans under this section may be accepted.
560.17(7)(e)
(e) If the board awards, and the department makes, a grant under
sub. (3) or
(5c), the department may contract directly with and pay grant proceeds directly to any person providing technical or management assistance to the grant recipient.
560.17 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
Comm 116.01, Wis. adm. code.
560.183
560.183
Physician and dentist loan assistance program. 560.183(1)(ac)
(ac) "Clinic hours" means hours spent working with patients in a clinic.
560.183(1)(ad)
(ad) "Dental health shortage area" means an area that is designated by the federal department of health and human services under
42 CFR part 5, appendix B, as having a shortage of dental professionals.
560.183(1)(ae)
(ae) "Dentist" means a dentist, as defined in
s. 447.01 (7), who is licensed under
ch. 447 and who practices general or pediatric dentistry.
560.183(1)(ag)
(ag) "Eligible practice area" means a primary care shortage area, a mental health shortage area, an American Indian reservation or trust lands of an American Indian tribe.
560.183(1)(aj)
(aj) "Health professional shortage area" means an area that is designated by the federal department of health and human services under
42 CFR part 5, appendix A, as having a shortage of medical care professionals.
560.183(1)(ap)
(ap) " Mental health shortage area" means an area that is designated by the federal department of health and human services under
42 CFR part 5, appendix C, as having a shortage of psychiatric professionals, excluding a state or federal prison and a state or county mental hospital.
560.183(1)(b)
(b) "Physician" means a physician, as defined in
s. 448.01 (5), who specializes in family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, or psychiatry.
560.183(1)(cm)
(cm) "Primary care shortage area" means an area that is in a primary care health professional shortage area as determined by the federal department of health and human services under
42 CFR part 5, appendix A, excluding a state or federal prison.
560.183(2)(a)(a) The department may repay, on behalf of a physician or dentist, up to $50,000 in educational loans obtained by the physician or dentist from a public or private lending institution for education in an accredited school of medicine or dentistry or for postgraduate medical or dental training.
560.183(2)(b)
(b) A physician or dentist who is a participant in the national health service corps scholarship program under
42 USC 254n, or a physician or dentist 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 which the physician agrees 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)(am)
(am) The department shall enter into a written agreement with the dentist, in which the dentist agrees to practice at least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more dental health shortage areas in this state. The dentist shall also agree to care for patients who are insured or for whom dental 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 a physician desires to practice and the degree to which there is an extremely high need for dental care in the dental health shortage area in which a dentist 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, and that a dentist will remain in the dental health 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 and of the dental health shortage area in which a dentist 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 and for dentist recruitment and retention provided by individuals, organizations, or local governments in the dental health shortage area in which a dentist desires to practice.
560.183(5)(b)5.
5. The geographic distribution of the physicians and dentists who have entered into loan repayment agreements under this section and the geographic distribution of the eligible practice areas, health professional shortage areas, and dental health 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, dentist, or 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 and dentists who breach agreements entered into under
sub. (3). 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 and dental health shortage areas with an extremely high need for dental care.
560.183(8)(d)
(d) Assist the department to publicize the program under this section to physicians, dentists, and eligible communities.
560.183(8)(e)
(e) Assist physicians and dentists who are interested in applying for the program under this section.
560.183(8)(f)
(f) Assist communities in obtaining physicians' and dentists' 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 or dentist under an expanded physician and dentist 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 and dentist loan assistance program, a physician or dentist must fulfill all of the requirements for loan repayment under this section, as well as all of the following:
560.183(9)(a)
(a) The physician or dentist must be a U.S. citizen.
560.183(9)(b)
(b) The physician or dentist 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 or dentist 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 or dentist's services.
560.183(9)(c)3.
3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area, if a physician, or in a dental health shortage area, if a dentist.
560.183 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
Comm 122, Wis. adm. code.
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, except that with respect to a dental hygienist "eligible practice area" means a dental health shortage area.
560.184(1)(b)
(b) "Health care provider" means a dental hygienist, 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) who is not a dental hygienist 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 who is not a dental hygienist desires to practice and the degree to which there is an extremely high need for dental care in the dental health shortage area in which an eligible applicant who is a dental hygienist 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).
