HARRISBURG -- Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, said today he wants to make it more financially attractive for graduating doctors to stay and practice somewhere in this state rather than taking their talents elsewhere.

So he's introduced legislation, House Bill 1093, that would "forgive" a doctor's medical school loans -- which can be $100,000 or more -- if the physician agrees to practice in Pennsylvania for at least 10 years after graduation from medical school.

The loan repayments -- which the state would make to a medical school -- would be done at 10 percent a year, for 10 years. If doctors changed their minds and left the state before the full 10 years was up, they would have to repay the state for the amount paid up to that time.

Mr. Shapiro said that only about 8 percent of the doctors who train at Pennsylvania medical schools end up staying and practicing in this state. He also said the percentage of Pennsylvania doctors under age 35 has been dropping for the past 15 years and now stands at 3 percent.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First Published: June 4, 2007, 8:00 p.m.