Section 261.128. Health care professional incentive payment program — repeal.

  1.  The commission shall establish a health care professional incentive payment program to recruit and retain health care professionals in this state. Funding for the program may be provided through the health care workforce shortage fund or the health care professional and Iowa needs nurses now initiative account created in section 135.175.

  2.  The commission shall administer the incentive payment program with the assistance of Des Moines university — osteopathic medical center.

  3.  The commission, with the assistance of Des Moines university — osteopathic medical center, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A relating to the establishment and administration of the health care professional incentive payment program. The rules adopted shall address all of the following:

  a.  Eligibility and qualification requirements for a health care professional, a community, and a health care employer to participate in the incentive payment program. Any community in the state and all health care specialties shall be considered for participation. However, health care employers located in and communities that are designated as medically underserved areas or populations or that are designated as health professional shortage areas by the health resources and services administration of the United States department of health and human services shall have first priority in the awarding of incentive payments.

  (1)  To be eligible, a health care professional at a minimum must not have any unserved obligations to a federal, state, or local government or other entity that would prevent compliance with obligations under the agreement for the incentive payment; must have a current and unrestricted license to practice the professional’s respective profession; and must be able to begin full-time clinical practice upon signing an agreement for an incentive payment.

  (2)  To be eligible, a community must provide a clinical setting for full-time practice of a health care professional and must provide a fifty thousand dollar matching contribution for a physician and a fifteen thousand dollar matching contribution for any other health care professional to receive an equal amount of state matching funds.

  (3)  To be eligible, a health care employer must provide a clinical setting for a full-time practice of a health care professional and must provide a fifty thousand dollar matching contribution for a physician and a fifteen thousand dollar matching contribution for any other health care professional to receive an equal amount of state matching funds.

  b.  The process for awarding incentive payments. The commission shall receive recommendations from the department of public health regarding selection of incentive payment recipients. The process shall require each recipient to enter into an agreement with the commission that specifies the obligations of the recipient and the commission prior to receiving the incentive payment.

  c.  Public awareness regarding the program including notification of potential health care professionals, communities, and health care employers about the program and dissemination of applications to appropriate entities.

  d.  Measures regarding all of the following:

  (1)  The amount of the incentive payment and the specifics of obligated service for an incentive payment recipient. An incentive payment recipient shall agree to provide service in full-time clinical practice for a minimum of four consecutive years. If an incentive payment recipient is sponsored by a community or health care employer, the obligated service shall be provided in the sponsoring community or health care employer location. An incentive payment recipient sponsored by a health care employer shall agree to provide health care services as specified in an employment agreement with the sponsoring health care employer.

  (2)  Determination of the conditions of the incentive payment applicable to an incentive payment recipient. At the time of approval for participation in the program, an incentive payment recipient shall be required to submit proof of indebtedness incurred as the result of obtaining loans to pay for educational costs resulting in a degree in health sciences. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “indebtedness” means debt incurred from obtaining a government or commercial loan for actual costs paid for tuition, reasonable education expenses, and reasonable living expenses related to the graduate, undergraduate, or associate education of a health care professional.

  (3)  Enforcement of the state’s rights under an incentive payment agreement, including the commencement of any court action. A recipient who fails to fulfill the requirements of the incentive payment agreement is subject to repayment of the incentive payment in an amount equal to the amount of the incentive payment. A recipient who fails to meet the requirements of the incentive payment agreement may also be subject to repayment of moneys advanced by a community or health care employer as provided in any agreement with the community or employer.

  (4)  A process for monitoring compliance with eligibility requirements, obligated service provisions, and use of funds by recipients to verify eligibility of recipients and to ensure that state, federal, and other matching funds are used in accordance with program requirements.

  (5)  The use of the funds received. Any portion of the incentive payment that is attributable to federal funds shall be used as required by the federal entity providing the funds. Any portion of the incentive payment that is attributable to state funds shall first be used toward payment of any outstanding loan indebtedness of the recipient. The remaining portion of the incentive payment shall be used as specified in the incentive payment agreement.

  4.  A recipient is responsible for reporting on federal income tax forms any amount received through the program, to the extent required by federal law. Incentive payments received through the program by a recipient in compliance with the requirements of the incentive payment program are exempt from state income taxation.

  5.  This section is repealed June 30, 2016.

2015 Acts, ch 30, §216, 218, 219

Section takes effect April 8, 2015, and applies retroactively to June 30, 2014; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §218, 219

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