NOSORH Announces 2010 Legislators of the Year

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has awarded its 2010 Legislator of the Year Award to U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska).

NOSORH was created in 1995 to serve as an influential voice for rural health concerns and promote a healthy rural America through state and community leadership. The organization presents its Legislator of the Year Award each year to recognize outstanding legislators for their work on, and support of, rural health initiatives that address identified national healthcare needs. Those selected have introduced or supported legislation that addresses an identified rural health need or issue; made a special effort to effect change in rural health policy; and/or demonstrated leadership in the rural community.

Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals is arguably the biggest issue facing rural and frontier America. Several incentive programs have been introduced at the federal and state level to help communities address this need, including healthcare professional loan repayment programs.

Sixteen states have authorized state-funded loan repayment programs to date. While these programs have been successful in attracting healthcare professionals to rural and frontier communities, recipients of state-funded loan repayment awards historically have paid federal income tax on whatever awards they received. Federal and hybrid loan repayment programs, on the other hand, have imposed no federal tax burden on the recipient.

Sen. Nelson introduced and Sen. Barrasso co-sponsored legislation which effectively eliminates the federal income tax burden for state-funded loan repayment award recipients. The bill, which was passed as Section 10908 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010, became retroactive for awards received after December 31, 2008.

“As a result of this much-needed tax relief, healthcare professionals practicing in rural and underserved areas of these 16 states will have additional money to apply to their educational debt,” noted Dennis Berens, director of the Nebraska Office of Rural Health, and Ron Pearson, administrator of the Rural and Frontier Health Division of the Wyoming Department of Health, in their nomination of Sens. Barrasso and Nelson. “Rural and underserved communities in all 16 states will also benefit because these healthcare providers will have more money to support the local economy.”

NOSORH and the Nebraska and Wyoming Offices of Rural Health will present Sens. Barrasso and Nelson with their awards at a date and location to be determined.

For additional information, please contact NOSORH Executive Director Teryl Eisinger at teryle@nosorh.org, 586.739.9940.