Program to Put Doctors in Poor Areas Is Saved

A loan-forgiveness program that puts newly licensed doctors to work in poor and rural areas of California has been saved by a $3-million allocation included in the state budget approved last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The funding is “mere dust” compared to the $117.3-billion budget signed July 11, but it will enable inner-city and remote communities throughout the state to recruit and retain badly needed physicians, Dr. Anmol S. Mahal, president-elect of the California Medical Assn., said Tuesday.

“Economics drive them away from these clinics,” he said during a news briefing at the Watts Health Center, one of the facilities benefiting from the program.

Physicians agreeing to work in poor and medically needy rural areas for at least three years can receive $105,000 through the program to repay school loans. Nationally, doctors emerge from their medical studies an average of $137,000 in debt, Mahal said.

About 50 doctors statewide currently participate in the program. Many work in Los Angeles County clinics, including the Family Health Care Centers in Bell Gardens, Clinica Medica San Miguel in Van Nuys, the Community Health Alliance of Pasadena and the Venice Family Clinic.

The $3 million will allow an additional 25 to 30 physicians to sign on to the program, said medical board spokesman Peter M. Warren.

Being able to attract physicians to underserved areas benefits all Californians, said Assemblyman Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate).

“Every dollar that goes into that program is several dollars in savings” because they will prevent emergency room visits, “which is the most expensive type of treatment,” he said.

The program also protects the public, De La Torre said. “If someone is out there and they’re sick with a communicable disease, you don’t want that to spread.”

Legislation passed in 2003 created the program but did not set aside money for it in the state budget. Until now, it has been funded by California Medical Board budget reserves and private donations. Officials said those sources are running dry and state money was needed to keep the program alive.

De La Torre is sponsoring a bill to help fund the program in the future by asking doctors to make $50 donations when renewing their licenses.