Representative Steve Eliason proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

5     
Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill makes changes to physician workforce programs.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     allows an entity that has previously been awarded a residency grant to submit
13     information to be able to renew the grant; and
14          ▸     modifies provisions related to the forensic psychiatric fellowship grant program.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          26B-4-711, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 307
22          26B-4-712, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 307
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 26B-4-711 is amended to read:

26          26B-4-711. Residency grant program.
27          (1) As used in this section:
28          (a) "D.O. program" means an osteopathic medical program that prepares a graduate to
29     obtain licensure as a doctor of osteopathic medicine upon completing a state's licensing
30     requirements.
31          (b) "M.D. program" means a medical education program that prepares a graduate to
32     obtain licensure as a doctor of medicine upon completing a state's licensing requirements.
33          (c) "Residency program" means a program that provides training for graduates of a
34     D.O. program or an M.D. program.
35          (2) UMEC shall develop a grant program where a sponsoring institution in Utah may
36     apply for a grant to establish a new residency program or expand a current residency program.
37          (3) An applicant for a grant shall:
38          (a) provide the proposed specialty area for each grant funded residency position;
39          (b) identify where the grant funded residency position will provide care;
40          (c) (i) provide proof that the residency program is accredited by the Accreditation
41     Council for Graduate Medical Education; or
42          (ii) identify what actions need to occur for the proposed residency program to become
43     accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education;
44          (d) identify how a grant funded residency position will be funded once the residency
45     program exhausts the grant money;
46          (e) agree to implement selection processes for a residency position that treat applicants
47     from D.O. programs and applicants from M.D. programs equally;
48          (f) agree to provide information identified by UMEC that relates to post-residency
49     employment outcomes for individuals who work in grant funded residency positions; and
50          (g) provide any other information related to the grant application UMEC deems
51     necessary.
52          (4) UMEC shall prioritize awarding grants to new or existing residency programs that
53     will:
54          (a) address a workforce shortage, occurring in Utah, for a specialty; or
55          (b) serve an underserved population, including a rural population.
56          (5) (a) An applicant that receives a grant under this section may apply, every two years,

57     to renew the grant for two years.
58          (b) An applicant to renew a grant under Subsection (5)(a) shall provide a statement
59     that:
60          (i) the applicant applied for federal funding and was not awarded federal funding in an
61     amount that fully funds each grant funded residency position; or
62          (ii) the funding the applicant described in Subsection (3)(d) is unavailable to the
63     applicant.
64          [(5)] (6) [Before November 1, 2023, and each November 1 thereafter,] On or before
65     November 1 of each year, UMEC shall provide a written report to the Higher Education
66     Appropriations Subcommittee describing:
67          (a) which sponsoring institutions received a grant;
68          (b) the number of residency positions created; and
69          (c) for each residency position created:
70          (i) the type of specialty;
71          (ii) where the residency position provides care; and
72          (iii) an estimated date of when a grant funded residency position will no longer need
73     grant funding.
74          Section 2. Section 26B-4-712 is amended to read:
75          26B-4-712. Forensic psychiatrist fellowship grant.
76          (1) As used in this section, "forensic psychiatry" means the provision of services by an
77     individual who:
78          (a) is a licensed physician;
79          (b) is board certified or board eligible for a psychiatry specialization recognized by the
80     American Board of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Association's Bureau of
81     Osteopathic Specialists; and
82          (c) uses scientific and clinical expertise in legal contexts involving the mental health of
83     individuals.
84          (2) UMEC shall establish a grant program that will facilitate the creation of a single
85     forensic psychiatrist fellowship program.
86          (3) An applicant for the grant shall:
87          (a) demonstrate how the applicant is best suited for developing a forensic psychiatry

88     fellowship program, including:
89          (i) a description of resources that would be available to the program; and
90          (ii) any resources or staff that need to be acquired for the program;
91          (b) identify what needs to occur for the proposed residency program to become
92     accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education;
93          (c) provide an estimate of how many individuals would be trained in the program at
94     any one time;
95          (d) provide any information related to the grant application UMEC deems necessary for
96     awarding the grant; and
97          (e) if awarded the grant, agree to:
98          (i) enter into a contract with the Department of Corrections that the applicant will
99     provide for the provision of forensic psychiatry services to an individual:
100          (A) who needs psychiatric services; and
101          (B) is under the Department of Corrections' jurisdiction; and
102          (ii) ensure that any individual hired to provide forensic psychiatry services will comply
103     with all relevant:
104          (A) national licensing requirements; and
105          (B) state licensing requirements under Title 58, Occupations and Professions.
106          Section 3. Effective date.
107          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.