Legislation approved in the Ohio House and under review by the state Senate as of press time would establish a student-loan repayment program for doctors of chiropractic. If passed by the Senate and signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio would, by all accounts, become the first state to offer student-loan repayment for DCs and establish a critical precedent that could be replicated nationwide.
According to Substitute House Bill 151, introduced by Ohio Rep. Rick Carfagna, doctors of chiropractic who agree to practice for at least two years in "designated chiropractic resource shortage areas" would be eligible to receive up to $30,000 ($10,000 annually) for their service. The bill would establish a Chiropractic Loan Repayment Fund, funded by $25 from every biennial chiropractic license renewal fee.
Eligible student-loan expenses that could be repaid by the Ohio Department of Health via the fund include "principal and interest of a government or other educational loan taken by an individual for the following expenses incurred while the individual was enrolled in an accredited chiropractic school or college:" tuition, other educational expenses (fees, books, lab costs, etc.), and room and board.
Both licensed DCs and chiropractic students in their final year of study would be eligible to participate in the loan-repayment program in return for serving in one of the designated shortage areas. Participants serving in the shortage areas would be required to:
(a) Provide chiropractic services for a minimum of twenty hours per week;
(b) Provide chiropractic services without regard to a patient's ability to pay;
(c) Meet the requirements for a [Medicaid] provider agreement and enter into the agreement with the department of [Medicaid] to provide chiropractic services to [Medicaid] recipients.
The director of health could designate the following as a chiropractic resource shortage area, per the legislation:
[A]reas in this state that experience special chiropractic health problems and chiropractor practice patterns that limit access to chiropractic ... The designations may apply to a geographic area, one or more facilities within a particular area, or a population group within a particular area. The director shall consider for designation as a chiropractic health resource shortage area any area in this state that has been designated by the United States [Secretary of Health and Human Services] as a health professional shortage area under section 332 of the 'Public Health Service Act.'
The director would also "designate each free clinic as a chiropractic health resource shortage area, regardless of whether the clinic is located in a geographic area that is designated as a chiropractic health resource shortage area."
According to the Ohio State Chiropractic Association, the bill has bipartisan support, which bodes well for its passage by the Ohio Senate. To track the bill's progress, click here.
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