Primary Care Physician Reentry Act of 2015

To establish a demonstration program to facilitate physician reentry into clinical practice to provide primary health services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Primary Care Physician Reentry Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds as follows: (1) According to the Association of American Medical Colleges— (A) the shortage of primary care physicians will reach 45,000 by the year 2020, as fewer than 20 percent of medical students choose to enter primary care medicine; and (B) the overall shortage of physicians in the United States is expected to surpass 130,000 by 2025. (2) Medical schools in the United States train only approximately 18,000 new physicians every year. (3) The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the United States needs at least 16,000 more primary care physicians. (4) According to a survey of 1,600 pediatricians over the age of 50 conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Academy of Pediatrics, 22 percent of female pediatricians took extended leave (6 months or more) from medicine, compared to only 6.5 percent of male pediatricians. Seventy-one percent of the female pediatricians who took extended leave did so to care for a child or family member. 3. Reentry program for physicians (a) Activities of the Secretary (1) Establishment of demonstration program The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary (A) award one grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible entity described in subsection (b) in each of the 10 regions served by a regional office of the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out physician reentry projects to assist reentering physicians participating in such projects through any of the activities described in subsection (d); and (B) in consultation with key stakeholders and subject to paragraph (2)(B), carry out the administrative activities described in paragraph (2)(A). (2) Administrative activities (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), the administrative activities described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) Conduct a national needs assessment with regard to the supply of physicians who provide primary health services, using, to the extent feasible, information collected for use in other similar completed or forthcoming studies, such as studies conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Health Resources and Services Administration. (ii) Develop a database that contains a directory of programs that help physicians reenter clinical practice. (iii) Disseminate evidence-based assessments and evaluation tools as such assessments and tools become available to measure the basic core competencies of physicians reentering clinical practice that are consistent with the guidelines published by the Federation of State Medical Boards for such physicians. (iv) Assist State regulatory authorities and hospital credentialing committees to structure requirements for physicians to return to clinical practice in a manner that ensures patient safety while addressing the burdens on such reentering physicians. (B) Limitation The Secretary shall use not more than 15 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this section to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (A). (b) Eligible entities Entities eligible to receive a grant under this section are the following: (1) A State (as defined in section 2(f) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 201(f) (2) A hospital. (3) An academic medical center. (4) A medical school. (5) A health center (as defined in section 330(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(a) (6) A teaching health center. (7) A nonprofit organization with a demonstrated history or expertise in providing physician education and with the ability to offer programs specifically targeted at reentering physicians. (c) Application In order to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Uses of Funds An eligible entity that receives funds under this section shall use such funds to carry out a physician reentry project to assist reentering physicians participating in the project through any of the following activities: (1) Training such reentering physicians to reenter clinical practice. (2) Paying credentialing fees and other fees that are necessary for such reentering physicians to reenter clinical practice. (3) Paying the salaries of such reentering physicians who are so eligible to reenter clinical practice during the period for which such physicians provide primary health services at a center described in subsection (e)(1). (4) Providing loan repayment assistance and other financial assistance, including scholarships and grants for education and training, to such reentering physicians. (e) Requirements of reentry physicians To participate in projects To be eligible to participate in a physician reentry project carried out by an eligible entity under this section, a reentering physician shall provide assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that the physician will comply with the following: (1) Service locations The reentering physician shall provide primary health services at— (A) a health center (as defined in section 330(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(a) (B) a Veterans Administration Medical Center if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs certifies that there is a shortage of physicians at such medical center; or (C) a school-based health center (as defined in section 2110(c)(9) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(9) (2) Length of service The reentering physician shall provide such services at such a center, consistent with paragraph (1), for not less than 2 years. (f) Liability protections For purposes of section 224 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 233 (g) Annual review and report For any year during which the demonstration program under this section is carried out, the Secretary shall conduct a review and comprehensive evaluation of such program and shall prepare and submit to Congress a report assessing such program, including an assessment of the performance of the reentering physicians who participate in physician reentry projects under such program. (h) Reentering physicians (1) Definition Subject to paragraph (2) reentering physician (A) who is a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)(1) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)(1) (B) who received training in primary care or primary health services, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dentistry, and mental health. (C) who was previously (and may currently be) legally authorized to practice medicine and surgery by a State; (D) who previously engaged in the clinical practice of medicine, but who is not currently engaged in the clinical practice of medicine and has not been engaged in such practice for a period of 2 years or such longer period determined to be sufficient by the Secretary; and (E) who provides assurances satisfactory to the Secretary and the respective State licensing board that the individual will return to clinical practice in the discipline in which such individual was trained or certified, including, if applicable, by regaining necessary training and certification for legal authorization to practice medicine and surgery by a State. (2) Exclusions For purposes of this section, the term reentering physician (A) such individual has failed to complete an obligation to provide health care services under a Federal, State, or local program (including any period of obligated service under subpart III of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254 l (B) the individual has a debt due to the United States. (i) Primary health services defined For purposes of this section, the term primary health services 42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3) (j) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016.

Summary: Primary Care Physician Reentry Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program to facilitate physician reentry into primary care clinical practice. To be eligible to participate, a physician must agree to provide primary care at a health center for at least two years. Grantees must assist reentering physicians by providing training, paying credentialing and other necessary fees, paying salaries, and providing loan repayment and other financial assistance. HHS must: (1) assess the need for additional primary care physicians, (2) develop a directory of programs that help physicians reenter clinical practice, (3) disseminate evaluation tools to measure the core competencies of physicians reentering clinical practice, and (4) assist regulatory and credentialing authorities to structure requirements for reentering physicians that ensure patient safety while addressing the burdens on those physicians. This bill limits civil liability for physicians participating in a reentry project.