Administrative Rule Review Report  #AR08-006

Legislative Service Office

10-Jan-08

AGENCY: Department of Health.

DATE SUBMITTED: January 3, 2008.

SUBJECT: Chapter 2, Wyoming Healthcare Provider Loan Repayment Program.

NATURE OF RULES:                     Legislative and procedural.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:         W.S. 9-2-118(b), 9-2-119(b).

DETERMINATION OF PROCEDURAL COMPLIANCE BASED UPON INFORMATION

SUBMITTED BY THE AGENCY TO LSO:              Apparently complete to date.  Notice of the proposed adoption of new rules was provided by the LSO as required by W.S. 28-9-103(d).  No comments have been received to date.

SUMMARY OF RULES:       The Department of Health administers a student loan repayment program for physicians and dentists under W.S. 9-2-118 and for allied health care providers under W.S. 9-2-119.  These amended rules would replace the 2005 revision, and emergency rules adopted August 9, 2007, and would implement statutory changes enacted in 2006 and 2007.  The amended rules:

· Add dentists to the physician loan repayment program;

· Provide that eligible loans include undergraduate and graduate school loans;

· Provide for coordination with other loan repayment programs;

· Delete a local match requirement for allied health care providers;

· Provide a priority in awarding grants for graduates of Wyoming colleges;

· Clarify the 25% local match requirement for physicians and dentists;

· Allow flexibility in determining "full-time equivalency" for purposes of a grant recipient's obligation to work in Wyoming.

FINDINGS:     The rules appear to be within the scope of statutory authority and legislative intent.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:        That the rules be placed on the Consent List and be approved by the Council as submitted by the Agency.

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Gerald W. Laska

Staff Attorney

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David K. Gruver

Assistant Director

GWL/