Bill description: HB 472 would expand Idaho’s Rural Physician Incentive Program by adding $2 of public money for every $1 of fees assessed on medical students.

Rating: -2

Does it increase government redistribution of wealth? Examples include the use of tax policy or other incentives to reward specific interest groups, businesses, politicians, or government employees with special favors or perks; transfer payments; and hiring additional government employees. Conversely, does it decrease government redistribution of wealth? 


Idaho’s Rural Physician Incentive Program gives subsidies to physicians, who work in designated physician-shortage areas, to repay their medical school student loans. The program collects its funds by charging a fee to Idaho students who are pursuing a medical degree. The Fiscal Note for HB 472 states that the fee charged to these students is roughly $1,600.

HB 472 would expand the funding for this program by adding up to a $2 state match for every dollar collected in student fees. Already, this incentive program takes money from all Idaho medical students and gives it back to a select few. The additional funding would triple the amount that goes towards program recipients. The program would continue to take away from other medical students who will not benefit from the program. The program would expand by taking additional money from Idaho taxpayers, transferring wealth away from working Idahoans to these few doctors.

(-1)

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt? 


Adding the $2 state match would triple the budget for this program, taking roughly $640,000 from the General Fund.

(-1)