Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-2712

of program - Eligibility and obligations of dentists.

A. 1. The State Department of Health shall administer the

Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.

2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide

educational loan repayment assistance for up to a total of twenty-

five full-time equivalent Oklahoma licensed dentists per year

including new and continuing contract renewable participants.

3. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be

distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the

participant for deposit to an appropriate loan agency in equal

monthly disbursements, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars

($50,000.00) per year for a maximum five-year period. Prior to any

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 869

disbursement, the Department shall certify and properly review

monthly reports submitted by the participating dentist detailing

performance of activities in accordance with the Oklahoma Dental

Loan Repayment Act.

4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the

Department shall review the performance in the Program of the

participating dentist and determine whether an award may be granted

for an additional period not to exceed a total participation in the

Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the

Department.

B. Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty

participant shall agree to provide dental care and services to

Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care

Authority. The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at

least thirty percent (30%) of the patients treated by the dentist

will be Medicaid recipients.

1. Any general practice dentist entering the Program each year

as a nonfaculty participant shall agree to provide dental care and

services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area

(DHPSA) of this state.

2. Any dentist licensed to practice as a Pediatric Dentistry

Specialist as defined by the State Dental Act or any dentist

practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC look-

alike, county health department or city-county health department may

be exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health

Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).

C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant

shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of

Dentistry. In the event there are no appropriate faculty

applicants, the Program may award additional nonfaculty dentists.

D. A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the Program if

the dentist:

1. Is a new dental school graduate. Preference will be given

to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;

2. Is licensed to practice dentistry in Oklahoma; and

3. Has demonstrated financial need.

E. The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to

provide dental services pursuant to the terms of the contract and in

accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.

F. If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, the

Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of

loan payments made under the Program plus interest.

G. The Department shall present a report on the operation of

the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within

one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the

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Legislature including but not limited to the progress made in

accomplishing the goal of the Program.