Repayment

Program to provide loan assistance payments to qualifying, recent graduate physicians and dentists that serve beneficiaries of existing health care programs described in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) to Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700), inclusive. To implement this section, the department shall consult with other state entities, including the Department of Health Care Access and Information, and with affected stakeholders.

Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Program shall be funded using moneys appropriated to the department for this purpose.

Legislature from the Healthcare Treatment Fund to the Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Program. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the Loan Repayment Program Account is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to implement the Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Program.

from the Health Care Treatment Fund described in paragraph (2). The department and the State Controller’s office shall maintain separate subaccounts for funds appropriated or transferred from each funding source. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the Medi-Cal Loan Repayment Program Special Fund is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to implement the Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Program.

appropriated to the department to implement this section shall be available to fund the administrative costs incurred by the department and any entity contracted with pursuant to subdivision (g). Administrative costs from the Loan Repayment Program Account of the Healthcare Treatment Fund are limited by subdivision (f) of Section 30130.57 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Program. In developing these criteria, the department shall prioritize ensuring timely access, limiting geographic shortages of services, and ensuring quality care in the Medi-Cal program. The department shall develop separate criteria for distribution of payments from the physician and dentist payment pools. At a minimum, the department shall establish the maximum number of years a physician or dentist may be in practice to qualify for payments pursuant to this section, and the minimum number of years a participating physician or dentist receiving payments pursuant to this section shall agree to participate as an enrolled provider in the Medi-Cal program.

Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment

Program and the amount of loan repayment assistance awarded to a participating physician or dentist shall be at the discretion of the department and any entity contracted with pursuant to subdivision (g), and shall be based on the criteria developed pursuant to subdivision (d). An exercise of discretion by the department and its contractors pursuant to this subdivision shall not be subject to judicial review, except that an applicant physician or dentist who is not selected for participation in the program may file for a writ of mandate pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure to rectify an abuse of discretion by the department and its contractors.

similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. The department shall consult with affected stakeholders before taking action pursuant to this subdivision.

likelihood that federal financial participation is available for expenditures pursuant to this section, it may seek the federal approvals necessary to obtain federal financial participation.

budget process in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 30130.55 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.