(1) Prospective physicians, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists and nurse practitioners who wish to participate in the Rural Health Services Program shall agree that:
(a) For each year of medical, physician assistant, dental, pharmacy or graduate school, the applicant designates an agreed amount, not to exceed $25,000, as a qualifying loan subject to ORS 442.550 to 442.570.
(b) In the time period immediately following the completion of all residency requirements or the time period immediately following the execution of a Rural Health Services agreement with the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, whichever comes later, a physician or dentist agrees to practice for at least three full years in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic or in a medically underserved rural community in Oregon.
(c) For not less than three nor more than five years that a physician or dentist serves in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic or in a medically underserved rural community, the commission shall annually pay an amount that is a percentage of the total of all qualifying loans made to the physician or dentist through the programs described in ORS 442.550.
(d) In the time period immediately following the completion of physician assistant or graduate school or the time period immediately following the execution of a Rural Health Services agreement with the commission, whichever comes later, a physician assistant or nurse practitioner agrees to practice for at least two years in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic or in a medically underserved rural community in Oregon.
(e) For not less than two nor more than four years that a physician assistant or nurse practitioner practices in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic or in a medically underserved rural community, the commission shall annually pay an amount that is a percentage of the total of all qualifying loans made to the physician assistant or nurse practitioner through the programs described in ORS 442.550.
(f) In the time period immediately following the completion of all pharmacy residency requirements or the time period immediately following the execution of a Rural Health Services agreement with the commission, whichever comes later, a pharmacist agrees to practice for at least three full years in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic, in a medically underserved rural community in Oregon or in a pharmacy that is located in a medically underserved rural community in Oregon or a federally designated health professional shortage area and that is not part of a group of six or more pharmacies under common ownership.
(g) For not less than three nor more than five years that a pharmacist serves in a rural hospital as defined in ORS 442.470, in a rural health clinic, in a medically underserved rural community or in a pharmacy that is located in a medically underserved rural community or a federally designated health professional shortage area and that is not part of a group of six or more pharmacies under common ownership, the commission shall annually pay an amount that is a percentage of the total of all qualifying loans made to the pharmacist through the programs described in ORS 442.550.
(2) If the participant does not complete the full service obligation set forth in subsection (1)(b), (d) or (f) of this section, the commission shall collect 100 percent of any payments made by the commission to the participant under this program. In addition, a penalty equal to 50 percent of the qualifying loans and interest paid by the commission shall be assessed by the commission, to be credited to and deposited in the Rural Health Services Fund established under ORS 442.570.
(3) The Oregon Student Assistance Commission, in consultation with the Office of Rural Health, shall establish rules to allow waiver of all or part of the fees and penalties owed to the commission due to circumstances that prevent the participant from fulfilling the service obligation. [1989 c.893 §18; 1991 c.877 §21; 1991 c.947 §3; 1993 c.765 §53; 1993 c.813 §13; 2005 c.357 §2; 2007 c.485 §3]
Note: See note under 442.550.
Section: Previous 442.520 442.525 442.535 442.540 442.545 442.550 442.555 442.560 442.561 442.562 442.563 442.564 442.565 442.566 442.568 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008