By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The House Health and Welfare Committee sent a bill to establish a rural nursing loan repayment fund to the floor on Thursday in an 8-5 vote.
Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, pitched House Bill 84 to incentivize more nurses to work in rural areas.
Each eligible nurse would receive up to $5,000 in the first year for loan repayment or $10,000 per year in the second and third year of employment in an eligible rural nursing position. In total, the nurse could receive up to $25,000 over three years of employment.
The bill would create a new fund for the program for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The fund would be subject to legislative appropriation and could also accept private and corporate contributions.
Eligible nurses who are Idaho residents and graduated from Idaho nursing programs would be given priority, Healey said. It would apply to nursing at critical access hospitals, rural clinics, long-term care clinics, public health districts, state hospitals, home health agencies, licensed hospice agencies, tribal clinics, and Indian Health Service facilities in rural areas.
“These hospitals are the ones that care for our most rural areas, which means that when our volunteer EMTs are in need of help, they go to these hospitals,” Healey said.
Majority Leader Rep. Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, questioned why Healey didn’t add nurses into one of the existing state programs for physician loan and repayment funds.
“By my math, if it gets fully funded, we’re talking about $2.5 million,” Blanksma said.
Healey said her understanding is that the funds in that program couldn’t be allocated to this type of education.
The bill includes a sunset date of 2029 to avoid asking for additional money in the future, Healey said.
It now heads to the House floor for a vote.
No votes in the committee came from Blanksma, Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, Rep. Jacyn Gallagher, R-Weiser, Rep. Mike Kingsley, R-Lewiston, and Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene.
Yes votes came from Healey, Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, Rep. Marco Erickson, R-Idaho Falls, Rep. Chenele Dixon, R-Kimberly, Rep. Josh Wheeler, R-Ammon, Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, and Rep. Nate Roberts, D-Pocatello.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.
