Please Note: The following summaries of legislation enacted during the 2004 Legislative Session were prepared by the Legal Services Division Staff for internal use by the Legislative Service Office.

This report is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and does not purport to be an official statement of legislative intent concerning any measure enacted by the Legislature.

The bill summaries contained in this report were prepared as an aid to locating enacted legislation and as a brief recap of the major provisions of each bill. While the information provided in these summaries is accurate, the summaries are not intended as a detailed abstract and reference should be made to the enacted bills for more complete information.

Bill No.: SF0045 Drafter: JWL

LSO No.: 04LSO-0263.E2 Effective Date: 7/1/2004

Enrolled Act No.: SEA0041

Chapter No.: 106

Prime Sponsor: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Catch Title: Health care provider loan repayments.

Subject: Amends Department of Health program for repayment of some health care provider educational loans.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act amends an existing department of health program to pay off student loans for physicians and allied health care professionals, as follows:

· Makes dentists eligible for the same repayment terms as physicians.

· Requires the health care professional to contractually agree to serve in underserved areas and provide care to Medicaid recipients and child health insurance program participants;

· Reduces the local matching funds requirement from 50% to 25%, and allows health care facilities or associations to contribute to the local match;

· Adds radiologists and mental health professionals to the list of allied health professionals eligible for loan repayment.

Comments:

This act requires reports on program status from the department of health to the joint labor, health and social services committee by October 1, 2004, and October 1, 2005.