TITLE: Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board concerning a shortage of primary care physicians in this state.

SUMMARY: Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board concerning a shortage of primary care physicians in this state.

FULL TEXT:
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.