Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2023

Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2023

This bill reauthorizes through FY2032 and expands the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. Through this program, the Health Resources and Services Administration provides loan repayment assistance to individuals who agree to work for a period of time in the field of substance use disorder treatment.

In particular, the bill expands eligibility to include individuals who agree to work in mental health professional shortage areas for a period of time.

The bill also allows the use of the loan repayment assistance to repay any loan incurred to obtain a post-graduate degree in a mental health or related field. (Current law limits the loans eligible for repayment to loans for education and training for substance use disorder treatment employment and specified nursing and federal education loans.)