HB 1668 - DIGEST

Creates the Washington health corps, which: (1) Is the state's initiative to encourage health care professionals to work in underserved communities, and in exchange for service, the health care professional receives assistance with higher education, in the form of loan repayment or a conditional scholarship; and

(2) Consists of the health professional loan repayment and scholarship program and the behavioral health loan repayment program.

Creates the behavioral health loan repayment program for credentialed health professionals serving in underserved behavioral health areas.

Requires both programs to be administered by the office of student financial assistance.

Requires the student achievement council, in consultation with the department of health, to study the need, feasibility, and potential design of a grant program to provide funding to behavioral health students completing unpaid pregraduation internships and postgraduation supervised hours for licensure.

Creates the behavioral health loan repayment program account.