HB20 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Physician Initiative, phase in provision of 100 scholarships per year, scholarships for students who commit to practice family medicine in underserved areas of state, AL. Medical Education Consortium to administer, Dept. of Public Health to fund

Summary

HB 20 would create the Alabama Physician Initiative to provide tuition scholarships to Alabama medical students who commit to practicing family medicine in rural, high-need areas of Alabama for five years after residency, administered by the Alabama Medical Education Consortium and funded by the State Department of Public Health.

What This Bill Does

It phases in 100 scholarships per year (starting with 25 in 2018-2019) for medical students in Alabama who agree to enter family medicine after residency and, if possible, complete residency in Alabama. Scholarships cover tuition and cannot reduce other financial aid; students must complete medical school in four years and sign service contracts with the consortium and participating colleges. After residency, scholars must practice family medicine for five years in a primary care shortage area in Alabama, with the location set by the consortium; if they fail to meet contract terms, they must repay the scholarship with interest. Funding is provided through legislative appropriations via the State Department of Public Health, and the consortium must report annually to the Legislature.

Who It Affects

• Medical students enrolled in Alabama colleges of medicine who participate in the Alabama Physician Initiative, receive tuition scholarships, and sign service contracts to practice family medicine in Alabama after residency.
• Rural areas of Alabama designated as primary care shortage areas, which would gain additional family medicine physicians for five years following scholars' residency, with placement determined by the Alabama Medical Education Consortium.

Key Provisions

• Phase-in plan for 100 scholarships per year, starting with 25 scholarships in 2018-2019 for eligible Alabama medical students who commit to family medicine in rural areas of greatest need.
• Scholarships are for tuition funding only and may not reduce other financial aid or scholarships the student receives.
• Selection process for up to 25 incoming first-year students each fall, with a maximum of 100 participants at any time; students must be enrolled full-time in a college of medicine and aim to enter family medicine residency in Alabama.
• Students must sign a service contract with the Alabama Medical Education Consortium and the colleges of medicine; after residency, they must practice family medicine in Alabama for five years in designated primary care shortage areas.
• Residency match and placement: students should match in Alabama for residency in family medicine if possible; actual practice location is determined by the consortium based on state needs.
• Noncompliance: if a student or former student fails to comply with the service contract, they must repay all scholarship funds with interest.
• Funding: scholarships may be funded through legislative appropriation via the State Department of Public Health; the consortium must file annual reports and funding requests to the Legislature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Physician Initiative