A new bill introduced by New Jersey state Senator Bob Singer (R-Lakewood) seeks to address the state’s ongoing shortage of health care professionals by creating a public-private partnership aimed at recruiting and retaining medical talent.

The measure would establish the “Public-Private Alliance to Retain Talent and Expand Regional Health Program” within the State Department of Health.

The initiative is designed to help health care professionals pay down student debt or cover tuition costs in exchange for committing to work in New Jersey hospitals after graduation.

Under the proposal, the Department of Health would contract with a qualified recruitment and retention servicer responsible for administering the student loan or tuition relief. Eligible participants would be students who enter into a postgraduate employment agreement with a participating hospital in the state.

To qualify for state funding, partner hospitals would be required to provide a 200 percent funding match to the State’s contribution, with the exception of University Hospital in Newark, which would be exempt from this matching requirement.

The bill also includes a $5 million appropriation from the State’s General Fund to launch and operate the program.

Singer’s bill aims to strengthen New Jersey’s health care system by making it more affordable for new professionals to begin their careers in the state, helping to combat workforce shortages that have strained hospitals in recent years, especially in Lakewood where rapid population growth has created a surge in demand for medical care. Local health centers and private practices have been in high demand and this program could help ensure that enough qualified doctors, nurses, and specialists are available to serve the area’s growing population.