86R14198 MM-D
By: Sheffield, Raymond H.B. No. 4003
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board concerning a shortage of primary care physicians in this
state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.088 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.088. STUDY REGARDING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
SHORTAGE. (a) The board shall conduct a study regarding methods to
mitigate or prevent a shortage in the number of primary care
physicians practicing in this state. The study:
(1) must include an analysis of whether requiring or
incentivizing graduate medical education programs to increase the
number of first-year residency positions leading to a medical
specialty in family practice or primary care to 50 percent of
first-year residency positions offered by the program will
positively impact the number of physicians who practice primary
care in this state; and
(2) may include an analysis of the feasibility of
providing additional funding for medical residencies for rural and
community-based hospital family practice and primary care
positions, including by providing funding for the repayment of
student loans for physicians under Subchapter J.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2020, the board shall submit
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the
house of representatives a report on the results of the study and
any recommendations for legislative or other action.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. 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, 2019.