A new loan forgiveness program – to the tune of $20,000 per year for four years – may entice physicians to choose primary care over specialties and choose to practice in Rhode Island.
In an environment where primary care physicians (PCPs) are scarce across the country, Rhode Island organizations are recognizing the need to provide incentives for fourth year medical students – and resident physicians who have yet to declare a specialty – to stay in their state.
“In short, we’re trying to help avoid a further decrease in the number of practicing PCPs,” said Christopher Medici, BCBSRI’s chief communications officer. “We strongly believe that this will help improve the health and healthcare of our fellow Rhode Islanders.”
The Rhode Island Foundation has pledged $600,000 over three years, with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) making a one-time contribution of $500,000. The Rhode Island Medical Society and the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority comprise the founding contributors.
BCBSRI recognizes that severe PCP shortages will impair healthcare system reform efforts, Medici said.
“There is a pressing need to support the primary-care infrastructure in this state, as well as across the country, particularly since there is more than sufficient data that underscores the link between primary care healthcare costs and the quality of care,” he said.
Medici pointed out that numerous studies have validated that better health outcomes are achieved in areas where primary care plays a strong role. Thus, supporting PCPs can help keep healthcare costs down in the form of reduced emergency department visits and hospital admissions, among other things.
“It should be at the heart of healthcare reform to improve the quality of care while helping to moderate costs,” Medici said.
Most of the PCP loan payback programs, which are funded through the state and federal governments and administered by state entities, focus on the states’ medically underserved areas.
“Although the program BCBSRI is participating in may give preference to individuals practicing in underserved areas, we recognize the need to bring PCPs to all sections of Rhode Island,” Medici said.
BCBSRI has worked in other areas to address the PCP shortage, including recruiting PCPs and offering financial support. The health plan has “sought to increase reimbursement to PCPs to encourage physicians to continue or to begin practice as PCPs,” according to Medici.
It has also partnered with the Rhode Island Free Clinic to expand the network of physicians to treat the clinic’s uninsured patients.
Other states with loan forgiveness programs include California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. Pennsylvania lawmakers in both the House and Senate introduced similar bills in March, making it the second time in two years that state has tried to implement a loan forgiveness program for physicians.