Rural Health Care Bill Passes in House, 59-0

A bill to help primary care providers who commit to serving in rural or medically underserved areas of the state passed the Oregon House of Representatives on Thursday in a unanimous, bipartisan 59-0 vote.

State Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) was a chief co-sponsor of SB 440B, which gave the Oregon Health Authority the ability to transfer up to $4 million for the purpose of creating the Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Fund, and do so no later than June 30, 2015.

“This bill will go a long way toward helping rural residents meet their health care needs and receive improved and enhanced services,” Rep. Smith said. “It is a step in the right direction, and I am glad to see it move through the legislative process with such strong and broad support.”

SB 440B requires Oregon Health & Science University to develop and implement a program to focus recruitment efforts on students who reside in or are interested in practicing in rural or medically underserved areas. OHSU will reserve a number of admissions to each class at the medical school for qualified students who demonstrate an interest in practicing medicine in those areas.

Once those students are admitted, OHSU will support them with resources such as clinical rotations in rural areas and technical assistance with accessing education loans and assistant programs.

SB 440B now heads to Gov. John Kitzhaber for his signature, at which point it will become law.