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6/3/2026
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Senate OKs Gallo bill for student loan repayment incentive for primary care providers
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo to provide educational loan repayment to encourage medical students to enter the primary care field and serve Rhode Islanders.
The bill, which now goes to the House, is part of the Senate’s 17-bill package of healthcare legislation centered on supporting Rhode Islanders in crisis, protecting patients and providers and strengthening the state’s health workforce.
The legislation (2026-S 3062A) amends the existing Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to create a loan repayment program for primary care providers. Physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners would need to make a two-year commitment to providing primary care in Rhode Island to qualify for repayment assistance. The program can be directed to focus on specific areas of the state experiencing primary care provider shortages during that particular year.
“Medical professionals, of course, usually are saddled with an immense amount of student debt, and that burden often leads them to choose a more profitable specialty rather than primary care. Relieving them of some of that debt is an incentive that many providers have said would be a great help,” said Senator Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick). “This bill strikes directly at the issue that steers providers away from primary care. It’s our hope this will help new providers choose primary care, make a commitment to serving Rhode Island, and want to stay here.”
The 2027 state budget bill that is scheduled for consideration by the House of Representatives Friday includes $400,000 for loan repayment for primary care providers.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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