Req. No. 5772 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 2121 By: McEntire
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to public health; amending 63 O.S.
2011, Section 1-2721, as last amended by Section 1,
Chapter 286, O.S.L. 2018 (63 O.S . Supp. 2020, Section
1-2721), which relates to the Oklahoma Medical Loan
Repayment Program; providing for inclusion of general
surgery; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 697.3, as
amended by Section 3, Chapter 67, O.S.L. 2020 (70
O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 697 .3), which relates to the
Physician Manpower Training Commission; including a
nurse practitioner in membership; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2011, Section 1 -2721, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 286, O.S.L. 2018 (63 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 1-2721), is amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2721. A. 1. The Physician Manpower Training
Commission shall administer the Oklahoma M edical Loan Repayment
Program.
2. For the purposes of this section, "primary care physicians "
shall mean physicians practicing in family medicine, geriatrics,
Req. No. 5772 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
general internal medicine, general pediatrics,
obstetrics/gynecology, or emergency medicine, or general surgery.
3. For the purposes of this section, "health center" shall mean
a federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C., Section
1905(1)(2)(B).
4. For the purposes of this section, "Teaching Health Center"
shall mean a health center that supports the residencies of primary
care physicians within the operations of the health center.
5. The Program, depending upon and limited to available
funding, shall provide educational loan repayment assistance to
Oklahoma licensed primary care phy sicians and physician assistants
who agree to establish a practice in a community located in Oklahoma
approved by the Commission.
6. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
participant at the end of each contract year with disbursements not
to exceed an amount to be established annually by the Commission.
Prior to any disbursement, the Commission shall certify and properly
review reports submitted by the participating physician or physician
assistant detailing performance of activities in accordance with the
Program.
7. The Commission shall review the performance in the Program
of the participating physician or physician assistant and determine
Req. No. 5772 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
whether an award may be granted fo r additional years pursuant to
rules promulgated by the Commission.
B. The physicians and physician assistants entering the Program
each year shall agree to provide medical care and services in areas
designated by the Commission to provide medical care an d services to
Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority.
C. A physician or physician assistant shall be eligible to
participate in the loan repayment program Oklahoma Medical Loan
Repayment Program if the individual:
1. Is a physician that holds a current Oklahoma medical
license;
2. Is a new primary care graduate physician or physician
assistant. Preference will be given to graduates of the primary
care residency programs affiliated with the Oklahoma State
University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of
Oklahoma College of Medicine and the teaching hospitals affiliated
with both schools of medicine and Teaching Health Centers located in
this state; or
3. Is a current practicing physician or physician assistan t and
has met criteria established by the Commission.
D. The Commission may accept donations of public or private
funds to assist in funding the Oklahoma Medical Loan Repayment
Program. The Commission may, at its discretion, contract with other
Req. No. 5772 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
public entities and non-profit nonprofit corporations for the
endowment, management and administration of such funds.
E. The Commission shall present a report on the operation of
the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the Pre sident Pro Tempore of the Senate within
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the
Legislature, including but not limited to the progress made in
accomplishing the goal of the Program.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O .S. 2011, Section 697.3, as
amended by Section 3, Chapter 67, O.S.L. 2020 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
Section 697.3), is amended to read as follows:
Section 697.3 The Physician Manpower Training Commission shall
be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor with the
advice and consent of the Senate. Upon the expiration of the term
of one of the nonphysician members, three members shall be
practicing allopathic physicians, three shall be practicing
osteopathic physicians and one shall not be a physician nurse
practitioner. The membership shall be appointed from diverse
geographic areas of the state. No board member serving on November
1, 2001, shall be removed from the board to satisfy the requirements
of this section, but appointments to fill vacan cies subsequent to
November 1, 2001, shall be subject to the requirements of this
section. Three members of the Commission shall be appointed for
one-year terms, two members shall be appointed for three -year terms
Req. No. 5772 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
and two members shall be appointed for fi ve-year terms, and at the
expiration of the initial terms, succeeding terms of office shall be
five (5) years in duration. There shall be also twelve additional
nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission who shall serve in an
advisory capacity only an d include the Dean of the University of
Oklahoma College of Medicine or designee, the Dean of the University
of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa or designee, the Chair of
the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center or designee, the Chair of the Department of
Family Practice of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine -
Tulsa or designee, the Chair of the Department of General Practice
of the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery or
designee, the President of the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians
or designee, the President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association
or designee, the President of the Oklahoma State Osteopathic
Association or designee, the President of the Oklahoma Hospital
Association or designee, the State Commissioner of Health or
designee, the Provost of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center or designee, and the Dean of the Oklahoma College of
Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery or designee. Members of the
Commission shall serve without salary, but may be reimbursed for
travel expenses in attending meetings and performing their duties
pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act, Section 500.1 et
seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Req. No. 5772 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
58-1-5772 AB 12/10/20