Woo-hoo! The Senate today passed HB1138: Colorado Health Service Corps, which will allow our state to more efficiently & effectively administer the state healthcare professional loan repayment program. The bill also rebrands the state healthcare professional loan repayment program, lovingly referred to as SLRP. The name, the Colorado Health Service Corps, now will reflect the federal health professional loan repayment program, the National Health Service Corps. Also, with the passage of this bill, oral health providers will now be eligible to apply for loan forgiveness dollars through the state’s Primary Care Office. The bill does not need to be reconciled, so should be finalized soon and sent to the Governor for his signature.

This is a great victory for our state and for rural & underserved residents and healthcare providers as loan forgiveness programs are a great incentive in strengthening the healthcare workforce in rural and underserved areas.