Rhode Island House Bill H7236

Rhode Island 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/22
• Refer: 1/28/22

Caption

Preceptors Tax Credit Act

Impact

The bill acknowledges the significant shortage of primary healthcare providers, particularly in medically underserved areas, and seeks to leverage the growing number of nurse practitioners to fill this void. By financially supporting clinicians who take on the role of educators, the bill aims to increase the healthcare workforce's capacity to manage patient loads while providing necessary clinical training to future providers. The legislation is especially timely given the projected growth of nurse practitioners, which is expected to outpace that of physicians, enabling a more responsive healthcare system to meet rising demands.

Summary

House Bill 7236, known as the Preceptors Tax Credit Act, aims to address the growing gap in access to primary healthcare in Rhode Island by incentivizing physicians and nurse practitioners to provide clinical education to nurse practitioner graduate students. The bill establishes a tax credit of $500 for eligible clinicians who serve as preceptors for these students. This initiative is intended to boost the primary healthcare workforce by encouraging more experienced professionals to participate in the education of new nurse practitioners, ultimately leading to improved healthcare access for vulnerable populations in the state.

Contention

Despite the apparent benefits, there are points of contention surrounding the bill. Critics may argue that the proposed tax credit could place additional financial strain on the state's budget, especially if the uptake among potential preceptors is lower than anticipated. Furthermore, there may be concerns regarding the adequacy of training provided in exchange for the tax credit, questioning whether the incentive effectively translates into meaningful educational experiences for graduate students. Additionally, there is a debate about the long-term effectiveness of tax incentives as a strategy for addressing systemic healthcare workforce shortages.