Kiesel Geriatric Care Bill Advances In House

Legislation that could increase the number of doctors specializing in geriatric care in rural Oklahoma easily passed out of a state House committee today. House Bill 1830, by Rep. Ryan Kiesel (D-Seminole), creates the Oklahoma Geriatric Medical Loan Repayment Program. The program would provide educational loan repayment assistance for up to five Oklahoma licensed physicians each year who have completed a fellowship training program in geriatrics, including geropsychiatry.

Each loan recipient would be eligible for $25,000 in annual assistance for up to five years. In exchange, the doctors receiving financial assistance from the state would agree to provide medical care in high-need areas of Oklahoma.

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