To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

More loan relief for mental health providers

If enacted, the bill would create a loan deferment and forgiveness program for qualifying mental health providers. You would be eligible if you are a student at an eligible minority-serving institution or are completing supervised clinical training and have accepted qualifying full-time employment to start on graduation. You would need to work full-time as a qualified mental health provider for five consecutive years starting on the date you are first licensed, either as a solo provider in a mental health shortage area or at an institution serving patients in such an area. During those five years you would not have to pay loan principal installments, but interest would still accrue and must be paid. After five years and if you are not in default, the Secretary would repay through the loan holder the lesser of your outstanding eligible loan balance as of the day before your service start or $200,000, covering Federal Direct loans, Perkins loans, and other federal loans the Secretary allows.