Us Congress Senate Bill SB4169

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/18/24
• Refer: 4/18/24

Caption

PCTEC Act Primary Care Team Education Centers Act

Impact

The legislation proposes grant funding up to $1,000,000 per year for eligible entities over a 5-year period to facilitate the establishment and expansion of these education centers. By developing partnerships with institutions of higher education and healthcare organizations, the bill seeks to improve training and recruitment of clinical staff, thereby addressing the existing shortages of faculty, clinical sites, and preceptors in primary care education. Such efforts are aimed at not only increasing the number of trained primary care providers but also enhancing their readiness to serve diverse community needs.

Summary

SB4169, known as the Primary Care Team Education Centers Act, aims to establish and support primary care team education centers throughout the United States. The primary objectives of this legislation include enhancing community-based ambulatory patient care centers and ensuring that health professional students receive diverse clinical education experiences in multidisciplinary primary care settings. This initiative is seen as crucial for addressing the growing need for health professionals in primary care roles, particularly in underserved areas.

Contention

While the bill's intentions are broadly supported, there are discussions around the limitations imposed on entities receiving grants under this program, as they will not be eligible for other teaching health center development grants. Critics may voice concerns about the adequacy of funding and the bill's overall effectiveness in enhancing the primary care workforce. Furthermore, the success of the program hinges on the ability to maintain high standards of training and integration of various health professionals into primary care teams, which could face unforeseen challenges in implementation.