Missouri counties with the greatest healthcare needs (i.e., areas with the highest prevalence of health conditions and a relatively low abundance of providers) are predominantly rural and located south of the Missouri River.
Recruitment and retention of physicians in these areas can be difficult; in response to ongoing and projected physician shortages, several programs, including student training grants and loan repayment, have been enacted to promote healthcare workforce development.
HB 906 would establish a rural primary care physician grant program, which would pay $10,000/year to primary care physicians who agree to practice in underserved rural areas for five years.
