Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 144 - MISSISSIPPI RURAL PHYSICIANS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (§§ 37-144-1 — 37-144-21) › Section 37-144-5 - Powers and duties of commission

The Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(a)
Developing the administrative policy for the commission and the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;
(b)
Promulgating rules and regulations, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, pertaining to the implementation and operation of the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program;
(c)
Developing and implementing strategies and activities for the identification and recruitment of students and for marketing the program and for the implementation of the program. In developing these strategies, the board shall seek the input of various organizations and entities, including the Mississippi State Medical Association, the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, the Mississippi Chapters of the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of OB-GYN, Mississippi Psychiatric Association , the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association, the Mississippi Osteopathic Medicine Association and the American Psychiatric Association;
(d)
Establishing a budget, with the advice and consent of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, to support the activities of the program and periodically reviewing and if appropriate, revising, the scholarship and other stipends offered through the program;
(e)
Advising the University of Mississippi Medical Center regarding hiring an executive director and support staff necessary for the commission's work. The commission shall nominate at least two (2) individuals to serve as executive director;
(f)
Reviewing participants progress in the program and mentoring students and physicians participating in the program;
(g)
Developing and participating in programs that provide initial practice support in collaboration with other interested professional organizations;
(h)
The commission shall have the authority through use of generally applicable definitions, to designate an area of the state as underserved or rural. The method by which these designations shall be made shall be contained in rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.
(i)
The commission shall produce an annual report to the Legislature showing certain information relating to the program for the previous fiscal year, including the following:
(i)
Budget, including funds provided in addition to legislative appropriations;
(ii)
Number of participants enrolled in medical or osteopathic school along with their matriculation status;
(iii)
The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered a medicine or other generalist residency program;
(iv)
The number and cause of participants who breached their obligation(s) to the program; and
(v)
The status of, to include location of practice, participants who have entered into the practice of medicine in a rural or medically underserved area in Mississippi.
Laws, 2007, ch. 554, § 3, eff. 4/20/2007.
Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 493, SB 2729,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by Laws, 2019, ch. 441, SB 2524,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2019.