SF4170 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants eligibility for loan forgiveness under the health professional education loan forgiveness program authorization and appropriation
Related bill: HF4067
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill expands Minnesota’s Health Professional Education Loan Forgiveness Program. It makes physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) eligible for loan forgiveness, adds several other health care professions to the program, and provides funding to support these new targeted loan forgiveness efforts. It also updates several definitions and eligibility rules to recruit health workers to designated rural areas and underserved urban communities.
Key Definitions and Terms (amended or added)
- Designated rural area: a rural area outside the seven-county Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area, with some city exclusions.
- Underserved urban community: areas or populations identified as medically underserved or with health professional shortages (HPSAs, MUAs, MUPs).
- Qualified educational loan: loans used for tuition, reasonable education expenses, and reasonable living costs related to health care education.
- Health professions covered (examples): medical residents, mental health professionals, midlevel practitioners (nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, advanced clinical nurses specialists, physician assistants), pharmacists, dentists and advanced dental therapists, public health nurses, hospital nurses, physical therapists, PTAs, and other health care technicians.
- Emergency circumstances: events like death, permanent disability, or long-term disability that prevent service.
- Hospital nurse and public health nurse: defined roles for nursing practice in relevant settings.
Main Provisions
- Expanded eligibility for loan forgiveness
- Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants become eligible, alongside a broadening of other health care professionals listed above.
- Eligible fields may include those where the state identifies the greatest need, including fields such as respiratory therapy, clinical laboratory technology, radiologic technology, and surgical technology.
- Special emphasis on providing forgivable support for work in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities, and for those specializing in pediatric psychiatry.
- Geographic and practice targets
- Funds can support professionals who commit to practicing in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities.
- The program can target professionals who will teach in nursing or related health fields, in addition to those who will deliver patient care.
- Nursing and hospital-focused incentives
- Nurses who work in Minnesota nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, hospitals owned by Minnesota hospitals, or hospital settings with significant nursing home activity may qualify for loan forgiveness if they agree to related service obligations.
- Certain nurses may be required to continue as hospital nurses for a minimum period or to teach for a minimum period.
- Pediatric psychiatry and teaching roles
- The plan includes potential targeting for specialists in pediatric psychiatry, and for those who teach in nursing or health-related programs.
- Service obligations
- Participants must sign a contract agreeing to a minimum service commitment.
- General rule: a minimum 3-year full-time service obligation (beginning after training) with certain nurse-related exceptions allowing a 2-year obligation.
- Some nursing positions (e.g., hospital nurses) may require a 2-year hospital service obligation.
- Administration and oversight
- The Health Commissioner administers the loan forgiveness program with input from relevant health care education partnerships to identify fields with the greatest need.
Funding and Appropriation
- A specific appropriation: $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund is dedicated to loan forgiveness for eligible physical therapists and PTAs.
- Funds remain available until expended, but any uncommitted balance at the end of a biennium may cancel back to the fund if not needed to fulfill existing commitments.
Significance and Potential Impact
- Increases the number of health workers eligible for loan forgiveness, with a focus on recruiting PTs/PTAs and other professionals to underserved areas.
- Aligns loan forgiveness with areas of greatest need, including rural areas and underserved urban communities, and supports pediatric psychiatry specialization.
- Encourages nurses and other health professionals to pursue teaching roles in postsecondary programs, expanding the workforce pipeline.
- Introduces structured service obligations to ensure recipients work in targeted areas or roles for a defined period.
What Changes from Existing Law
- Adds physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to the list of eligible participants.
- Expands and clarifies definitions related to rural/underserved areas, education loans, and the range of eligible health professions.
- Establishes new or expanded targets for where loan forgiveness funds should be directed, including a focus on designated rural areas and underserved urban communities.
- Creates additional requirements for nursing-related positions, including hospital and teaching roles.
- Creates a dedicated funding line for FY 2027 specifically for PTs/PTAs, with general fund availability beyond that year.
Relevant Terms - Health Professional Education Loan Forgiveness Program - loan forgiveness - physical therapist (PT) - physical therapist assistant (PTA) - designated rural area - underserved urban community - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) - medically underserved areas (MUA) - medically underserved populations (MUP) - qualified educational loan - pediatric psychiatry - midlevel practitioner - nurse practitioner - nurse midwife - nurse anesthetist - advanced clinical nurse specialist - physician assistant - hospital nurse - public health nurse - respiratory therapy - clinical laboratory technology - radiologic technology - surgical technology - appropriation - General Fund - contract service obligation
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 05, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 05, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services | |
| March 11, 2026 | Senate | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New or clarified definitions for advanced dental therapist, dental therapist, mental health professional, nurse practitioner, nursemidwife, nurse, nurse practitioner, emergency circumstances, public health nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, physician, physician assistant, and other related roles.",
"Designation of underserved urban communities and designated rural areas for program eligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 2024 section 144.1501 subd. 1 to define terms and health professions eligible for the health professional education loan forgiveness program, including those related to dental, nursing, mental health, and physical therapy.",
"modified": [
"Recasts the definitions section to align with the expanded list of eligible health care professions and settings."
]
},
"citation": "144.1501",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Expands the pool of eligible professionals (medical residents, physicians, mental health professionals, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, alcohol and drug counselors, midlevel practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and others) who may receive loan forgiveness if they agree to practice in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities.",
"Inclusion of specific practice settings and obligations (e.g., teaching in nursing fields, hospital nursing in certain facilities) as conditions for eligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 2024 section 144.1501 subd. 2 (Availability).",
"modified": [
"Modifies the geographic and practice-area criteria for eligibility to emphasize service in designated rural areas and underserved urban communities."
]
},
"citation": "144.1501",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds or clarifies requirements for eligibility to participate, including the list of eligible professions (medical/dental residents, licensed pharmacists, and those enrolled in relevant training programs).",
"Specifies service obligation timelines (three-year full-time obligation with March 31 start window; or two-year for certain nurse obligations).",
"Requires certain nurses selected under the program to commit to hospital-nurse employment as a condition of eligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 2024 section 144.1501 subd. 3 (Eligibility).",
"modified": [
"Adjusts start dates and length of service obligations to align with the program’s expanded scope and contract requirements."
]
},
"citation": "144.1501",
"subdivision": "subd. 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Not explicitly present in the provided text as a separate subdivision, but Sec.4 contains the appropriation related to 144.1501.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "144.1501",
"subdivision": "subd. 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Uses a definition of designated rural area outside the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121 subd. 2 (excluding Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud)."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines designated rural area used in the loan forgiveness program by referencing geographic criteria.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates geographic boundaries to determine eligibility for loan forgiveness."
]
},
"citation": "473.121",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Links the term 'dental therapist' to licensure under section 150A.06."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to licensure of dental therapists (as part of definitions).",
"modified": [
"Integrates licensure framework for dental therapists into the loan forgiveness eligibility definitions."
]
},
"citation": "150A.06",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Links the term 'advanced dental therapist' to certification under section 150A.106."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to certification as an advanced dental therapist (section 150A.106).",
"modified": [
"Is used to define eligibility for the loan forgiveness program related to advanced dental professionals."
]
},
"citation": "150A.106",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates licensing ranges for PTs and PTAs into definitions and program eligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References licensing for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants (sections 148.65 to 148.78).",
"modified": [
"Aligns loan forgiveness eligibility with the existing physical therapy licensure framework."
]
},
"citation": "148.65 to 148.78",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"References a defined scope for 'mental health professional' within eligibility terms."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines mental health professional with specified qualifications (Minn. Stat. 2024 section 245.462 subd. 18).",
"modified": [
"Ensures mental health professionals are eligible under the loan forgiveness program."
]
},
"citation": "245.462",
"subdivision": "subd. 18"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates the home care provider category into eligibility considerations via cross-reference."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to home care provider definitions (section 144A.43 subd. 4).",
"modified": [
"Expands the network of settings or providers connected to the program via statutory cross-references."
]
},
"citation": "144A.43",
"subdivision": "subd. 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicitly links hospital-nurse employment in nonprofit hospitals to program eligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Nurses employed as hospital nurses by nonprofit hospitals (Minn. Stat. 144G.08 subd. 7).",
"modified": [
"Broadens eligibility to include hospital nurses under nonprofit settings."
]
},
"citation": "144G.08",
"subdivision": "subd. 7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Includes physician assistants in the list of eligible health care professionals for loan forgiveness."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Physician assistant licensing (chapter 147A).",
"modified": [
"References to physician assistants align with existing licensure framework under chapter 147A."
]
},
"citation": "147A",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Includes pharmacists in the eligible professions for loan forgiveness."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Pharmacist licensure (chapter 151).",
"modified": [
"Integrates pharmacist licensure under chapter 151 into eligibility definitions."
]
},
"citation": "151",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires dentists to deliver at least 25 percent of yearly patient encounters to state public program enrollees or patients receiving sliding fee discounts in accordance with CFR 42 § 51c.303."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Federal regulation governing sliding fee schedule standards (Code of Federal Regulations title 42 section 51c.303).",
"modified": [
"Incorporates federal standards for fee schedules into loan forgiveness program prerequisites for dentists."
]
},
"citation": "42 C.F.R. § 51c.303",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee