84R12133 JSL-D
By: Campbell S.B. No. 1397
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a rural resident physician grant
program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by
designating Section 61.511 as Subchapter I-1 and adding a heading
to that subchapter to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I-1. PHYSICIAN RESIDENCY GRANTS
Sec. 61.511. RESIDENT PHYSICIAN EXPANSION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) The board shall administer the Resident Physician Expansion
Grant Program as a competitive grant program to encourage the
creation of new graduate medical education positions through
community collaboration and innovative funding. The board shall
award grants to physician residency programs at teaching hospitals
and other appropriate health care entities according to the program
criteria established under Subsections (b) and (i).
(b) The board shall establish criteria for the grant program
in consultation with the executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission, with one or more physicians, teaching
hospitals, medical schools, independent physician residency
programs, and with other persons considered appropriate by the
board. The program criteria must:
(1) take into account the following factors:
(A) the characteristics of existing residency
positions that receive state funding;
(B) current and projected physician workforce
demographics; and
(C) state population trends and projections; and
(2) support the following goals:
(A) creating new residency positions, with an
emphasis on creating new first-year residency positions, without
adversely affecting existing residency positions;
(B) maximizing local or federal matching funds;
(C) developing accredited physician residency
programs at hospitals that have not previously offered residency
programs; and
(D) increasing residency positions with respect
to:
(i) medical specialties having shortages in
this state; and
(ii) medically underserved areas in this
state.
(c) The board may provide grants only to support a residency
position that:
(1) is created and accredited on or after January 1,
2014; or
(2) was created and accredited before January 1, 2013,
but as of that date had not yet been filled.
(d) A grant award may be used only to pay direct costs
associated with the position, including the salary of the resident
physician.
(e) Each grant application must specify:
(1) the number of residency positions expected to be
created with the grant money; and
(2) the grant amount requested for each year.
(f) The board shall award grants for all residency positions
awarded a grant under this section in the preceding year before
awarding a grant for a residency position that did not receive a
grant in the preceding year, provided that the applicable grant
recipient from the preceding year complies with all conditions of
the grant as described by Subsection (g).
(g) The board shall monitor physician residency programs
receiving grants as necessary to ensure compliance with the grant
program and shall require the return of any unused grant money by,
or shall decline to award additional grants to, a residency program
that receives a grant but fails to:
(1) create and fill, within a reasonable period, the
number of residency positions proposed in the program's grant
application; or
(2) satisfy any other conditions of the grant imposed
by the board.
(h) The board shall use money forfeited under Subsection (g)
to award grants to other eligible applicants. With respect to the
physician residency program forfeiting the grant, the board may
restore grant money or award additional grants, as applicable, to
the program as soon as practicable after the program satisfies all
conditions of the grant.
(i) The board shall adopt rules for the administration of
the grant program. The rules must include:
(1) administrative provisions governing:
(A) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
(B) grant application procedures;
(C) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) guidelines relating to the number of grants
to be awarded each year, subject to available funds;
(E) procedures for evaluating grant
applications; and
(F) procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
(2) methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants;
and
(3) any conditions relating to the receipt and use of a
grant as considered appropriate by the board.
(j) Not later than January 1 of each year, the board shall
prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, the standing committees of
the senate and house of representatives with responsibility for
oversight of health and human services issues, and the Legislative
Budget Board a report that:
(1) specifies each of the following with respect to
the preceding program year:
(A) the number of grants awarded under the
program;
(B) the amount of each grant awarded under the
program;
(C) the number of residency positions created
with the support of grant money;
(D) the medical specialty of the residency
positions created; and
(E) whether physicians who complete their
training through residency positions created under the program
choose to practice in this state and which medical specialties they
choose for their practices; and
(2) makes appropriate recommendations for legislative
changes as necessary.
SECTION 2. Subchapter I-1, Chapter 61, Education Code, as
added by this Act, is amended by adding Section 61.512 to read as
follows:
Sec. 61.512. RURAL RESIDENT PHYSICIAN GRANT PROGRAM. (a)
The board shall administer the Rural Resident Physician Grant
Program as a competitive grant program to encourage the creation of
new graduate medical education positions in rural and
nonmetropolitan areas. The board shall award grants to new or
expanded physician residency programs at teaching hospitals and
other appropriate health care entities according to the program
criteria established under Subsections (b) and (i).
(b) The board shall establish criteria for the grant program
in consultation with the executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission, with one or more physicians, teaching
hospitals, medical schools, and independent physician residency
programs, and with other persons considered appropriate by the
board. The program criteria must take into account whether a rural
or nonmetropolitan area has the resources sufficient to support a
physician residency program in a manner that would satisfy
applicable residency accreditation requirements.
(c) The board may provide grants only to support a physician
residency program that provides the level of medical care that is
most needed in a rural or nonmetropolitan area.
(d) Grant funds awarded under this section may be used only
to pay direct costs associated with creating or maintaining a
residency position, including the salary of the resident physician.
(e) Each grant application must specify:
(1) the number of residency positions expected to be
created or maintained with the grant money; and
(2) the grant amount requested for each year.
(f) The board shall award grants for all residency positions
awarded a grant under this section in the preceding year before
awarding a grant for a residency position that did not receive a
grant in the preceding year, provided that the applicable grant
recipient from the preceding year complies with all conditions of
the grant as described by Subsection (g).
(g) The board shall monitor physician residency programs
receiving grants as necessary to ensure compliance with the grant
program and shall require the return of any unused grant money by,
or shall decline to award additional grants to, a residency program
that receives a grant but fails to:
(1) create and fill, within a reasonable period, the
number of residency positions proposed in the program's grant
application; or
(2) satisfy any other conditions of the grant imposed
by the board.
(h) The board shall use money forfeited under Subsection (g)
to award grants to other eligible applicants. With respect to the
physician residency program forfeiting the grant, the board may
restore grant money or award additional grants, as applicable, to
the program as soon as practicable after the program satisfies all
conditions of the grant.
(i) The board shall adopt rules for the administration of
the grant program. The rules must include:
(1) administrative provisions governing:
(A) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
(B) grant application procedures;
(C) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) guidelines relating to the number of grants
to be awarded each year, subject to available funds;
(E) procedures for evaluating grant
applications;
(F) procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
and
(G) reporting requirements for grant recipients;
(2) methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants;
and
(3) any conditions relating to the receipt and use of a
grant as considered appropriate by the board.
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the
grant program established under Section 61.512, Education Code, as
added by this Act. The board may adopt the initial rules in the
manner provided by law for emergency rules.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2015, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall establish the grant program
required by Section 61.512, Education Code, as added by this Act,
and shall begin to award grants under that program not later than
January 1, 2016.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.