Group: Health & Human Services - Department of Health

Agency: Health

Line Item: Workforce Financial Assistance

Function

The Legislature established the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program during the 2002 Legislative General Session by consolidating the Rural Physicians and Physician Assistants Grant and Scholarship Program, the Nurse Education Financial Assistance Program, and the Urban Special Population Health Care Provider Financial Assistance Program. The purpose of the combined Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program is to increase the number of: (1) health care professionals (physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, mental health therapists, or other health care professionals) to provide primary health care services in medically underserved areas and (2) geriatric professionals (health care professionals, social worker, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physical therapist, or psychologist). This is done through educational loan repayment grants and scholarships in return for providing health care services for an obligated period of time. Funding for this program is designated as nonlapsing and is appropriated as a separate line item, in accordance with UCA 26-46-102(4).

Statutory Authority

The Workforce Financial Assistance Program is governed by Title 26, Chapter 46 of the Utah Code.

• UCA 26-46 creates the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program Advisory Committee and establishes the Health Department's authority to administer the program.

Funding Detail

For analysis of current budget requests and discussion of issues related to this budget click here.