Provides for the award of regents scholarships and loan forgiveness for nurses on the same terms as physicians; applies to registered professional nurses as defined in section 6903 of the education law.
Relates to funds used for the physician loan repayment program and the regents physicians loan forgiveness program for physicians practicing in designated physician shortage areas and creates the medical malpractice rate relief program within the regents physician loan forgiveness program in designated physician shortage areas.
Transfers any unspent funds from the regents health care professional opportunity scholarship program to the regents physician loan forgiveness program; provides direction to distribute these funds to meet the same purposes as originally intended.
Establishes the NYS Health Care Consumer and Provider Protection and Equity Act to allow physicians and dentists to negotiate collectively with employers.
Requires cultural awareness and competence training for all medical professionals as part of their licensing requirements; requires biennial training in the non-discriminatory provision of medical services for physicians, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, registered and licensed practical nurses, podiatrists, and optometrists; authorizes the department of education to develop the training in consultation with the department of health and other experts; provides for documentation and exemption from the requirements; provides for a public education program on minority health; appropriates $100,000 therefor.