GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds signed her top priority into law on Wednesday afternoon.

The Governor signed her own proposed legislation at the Guthrie County Hospital, with state health care leaders, lawmakers and health care workers in attendance.

The bill, HF 972, has a plethora of provisions aimed at incentivizing medical students in the state to practice here.

“Iowa ranks 40th in the number of residency slots available to medical students, which means many of our graduates from Iowa medical schools don’t get a chance to continue their education and training here,” said Reynolds.

The bill sets up a loan repayment program for medical students who commit to work in a rural health care system for at least five years — doubling the funding of the existing program to nearly $8 million.

Iowa Health and Human Services is also directed to work on receiving $150 million in federal funding that will allow 115 new residency slots to be added annually to Iowa’s medical schools.

“Just three to four years from now, the amount of time it takes for a typical residency rotation, we could have up to 450 more physicians being trained right here in Iowa, with some ready to enter the workforce, and we’re going to be ready for them,” said Reynolds.

The legislation also sets up a $3 million health care credential granting program that will allow hospitals to educate and train future health care workers.

“It’s no secret there’s a physician shortage and a nurse shortage,” said Chris Stipe, the CEO of the Guthrie County Hospital. “But let’s be honest, there’s a shortage of all qualified health care workers in nearly every field. And workforce shortages are often more severe in smaller communities. If we are to continue to effectively care for our rural Iowa communities, critical strategies such as loan forgiveness programs and graduate medical education programs must be funded and expanded and run efficiently.”

Governor Reynolds also signed another bill, HF 310, into law that expands the legal definition of “health care provider” to protect more health care workers who are assaulted while at work by an individual. Outside of expanding the definition, the penalties were increased for anyone who commits the crime.

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