Health occupations: pharmacists; Michigan essential health provider recruitment strategy; expand to include pharmacists. Amends secs. 2701 & 2705 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2701 & 333.2705).
This bill expands Michigan's Essential Health Provider Repayment Program to include licensed pharmacists alongside other healthcare professionals. By amending the Public Health Code, it allows the state to repay student loan debt or training expenses for pharmacists who agree to work full-time in designated health resource shortage areas. The program maintains a maximum annual repayment of $40,000 and a total cap of $300,000 over a period of at least 10 years, contingent on the pharmacist fulfilling their service obligation.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 19, 2026
Last action Jun 17, 2026
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What changed between versions
House Introduced Bill
→
Substitute (H-1)
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to modernize definitions and expand eligibility for a health provider repayment program. Specifically, the definition of 'board certified' was updated to include the American Osteopathic Association, and the list of eligible professionals for loan repayment was expanded to include clinical nurse specialists and pharmacy schools.
Scope change
The scope of the repayment program was broadened to include additional healthcare professions and training programs.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'board certified' to explicitly include certification by the American Osteopathic Association alongside the American Board of Medical Specialties.
ELIGIBILITY
Added 'clinical nurse specialists-certified' to the list of professionals eligible for the essential health provider repayment program.
Added 'pharmacy school' to the list of educational programs for which students can receive loan repayment assistance.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jun 17, 2026
Committee
referred to second reading
lower
Jun 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported with recommendation with substitute (H-1)
lower
May 19, 2026
Committee
referred to Committee on Health Policy
lower
May 19, 2026
Introduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Tom Kunse
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Tom Kunse
RRepublican
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