Appropriates from the General Fund to the Office of Rural Health, Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Rural Health), $3 million in recurring funds for the 2018-19 fiscal year to supplement current funding for the NC State Loan Repayment Program (Program). Specifies that $800,000 must be used for repayment of loans owed by physician assistants and nurse practitioners who provide primary care services in rural areas of the State.

Directs the Office of Rural Health to structure the Program to align with three specific goals: (1) increase the number of healthcare providers in rural areas; (2) coordinate with the National Health Service Corps and Federal Loan Repayment programs, and any other publicly or privately funded programs, to maximize funding to increase the number of healthcare providers in rural areas; and (3) encourage the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural areas.

Further directs the Office of Rural Health to work with data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research as well as other sources to identify the need for dentists in rural areas, and develop a recommendation to target loan repayment funds for dentists in rural areas that have been identified as having the greatest need.

Requires the Office of Rural Health to submit an interim report on or before October 1, 2018, and a final report on or before October 1, 2019, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services.

Effective July 1, 2018.