PRINTER'S NO. 993
No. 907 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY RICHARDSON, IRVIS, BARBER, DUMAS, HARPER, EARLEY
AND RHODES, MARCH 28, 1979
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 28, 1979
AN ACT
1 Recognizing the problem of maldistribution of physicians
2 throughout Pennsylvania; setting forth the need to develop
3 over a ten-year period an accelerated premedical and
4 integrated primary care medical school program; creating the
5 Pennsylvania Primary Care Medical Education Council;
6 establishing the powers and duties of such council; creating
7 regional advisory committees to such council; providing
8 membership on the council and advisory committees for parties
9 interested in developing and carrying out the programs of the
10 council; providing for recommendations on and administration
11 of appropriations to medical schools, schools of osteopathy,
12 and certain undergraduate colleges and universities;
13 providing for open meetings and free access to the council
14 and advisory committees; and making appropriations.
15 TABLE OF CONTENTS
16 Section 1. Short title.
17 Section 2. Legislative findings.
18 Section 3. Pennsylvania Primary Care Medical Education
19 Council.
20 Section 4. Powers and duties of the council.
21 Section 5. Executive director.
22 Section 6. Regional advisory committees.
23 Section 7. Recommendations for appropriations and
24 administration of appropriations.
1 Section 8. Meetings; free access.
2 Section 9. Appropriations.
3 Section 10. Scope of act.
4 Section 11. Effective date.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Pennsylvania
9 Primary Care Medical Education Act."
10 Section 2. Legislative findings.
11 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is fortunate in the number
12 and quality of medical schools located therein. However, there
13 is no integrated system of education for physicians covering the
14 entire State which assures an appropriate distribution of
15 primary care physicians and related health care professionals
16 throughout the Commonwealth. The lack of such an integrated
17 system results in a loss to both the medical schools and the
18 community at large. The medical schools are unable to take
19 advantage of the various medical facilities and the talents of
20 individuals located throughout the Commonwealth. Many parts of
21 the community at large are without sufficient health care while
22 those parts which do have health care cannot take advantage of
23 the advanced knowledge available at the schools of medicine and
24 related health professions. These areas may be unable to attract
25 or maintain businesses, industry or residents because of the
26 lack of advanced or adequate medical services. It is essential
27 that an integrated Statewide education plan for physicians be
28 developed for the benefit of both the medical schools and the
29 community at large. A ten-year plan to provide such
30 decentralized medical training through remote site undergraduate
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1 medical education programs is to be created and should include
2 the following features:
3 (1) A selection process that favors primary care
4 oriented candidates interested in practicing in underserved
5 geographic areas of Pennsylvania.
6 (2) An accelerated premedical and integrated medical
7 school curriculum.
8 (3) The teaching of a significant portion of the medical
9 curriculum within the outreach community.
10 (4) The development of new and the support of existing
11 primary care residency programs within outreach communities.
12 (5) The availability of allied health and continuing
13 medical education programs within the community.
14 This act is also intended to provide the structure through which
15 certain individuals and institutions, as hereinafter described,
16 participating voluntarily, may advise the Executive and
17 Legislative Branches of the Pennsylvania Government of and may
18 participate in programs to remedy the maldistribution of
19 physicians and health care services, and may also recommend
20 appropriate expenditures to fund these programs.
21 Section 3. Pennsylvania Primary Care Medical Education
22 Council.
23 There is hereby created an independent council to be known as
24 the Pennsylvania Primary Care Medical Education Council which
25 shall consist of the following persons: the Secretary of Health,
26 the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Public Welfare,
27 or their respective designees; the chief executive officers, or
28 their designees, of the colleges or universities in
29 Pennsylvania, of which each accredited medical school or school
30 of osteopathy is a part, which desire to serve on the council
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1 and to participate in the planning and operation of the programs
2 of the council; one representative from the Pennsylvania Medical
3 Society; three representatives from Pennsylvania teaching
4 hospitals appointed by the Governor from a list of at least
5 seven names submitted by the Council of Teaching Hospitals; two
6 members of the House of Representatives, one from each political
7 party, selected by the Speaker of the House; two members of the
8 Senate, one from each political party selected by the President
9 pro tempore of the Senate; one representative from each region,
10 as hereinafter defined, to be appointed by the Governor to
11 represent the undergraduate colleges and universities in each
12 region, from a list containing one nominee from each college or
13 university in the region interested in developing and carrying
14 out the programs of the council; and two individuals appointed
15 from the general public by the Governor from each region to
16 represent the economic and social interests of the medically
17 underserved areas. Representatives from the teaching hospitals,
18 House of Representatives, Senate, undergraduate colleges, and
19 general public shall serve a four-year term except those first
20 appointed in which case, one-half shall be appointed for a
21 three-year term and the remaining half shall be appointed for a
22 four-year term. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the
23 original appointments for the remainder of the unexpired term.
24 The remaining members of the council shall be entitled to
25 permanent membership. The council shall select a chairman from
26 among its members. Members shall receive no compensation, but
27 shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred. A quorum shall
28 consist of a majority of the total membership of the council and
29 a majority vote of those present shall be sufficient in the
30 resolution of any matter.
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1 Section 4. Powers and duties of the council.
2 The council shall set policies and procedures consistent with
3 establishing an accelerated premedical and integrated medical
4 school program, and with the other findings as set forth in
5 section 2. In furtherance of these objectives, the council shall
6 have the following powers and duties:
7 (a) Develop an integrated Statewide education plan for
8 physicians which may include the establishment of residency
9 programs in community hospitals by the medical schools with the
10 cooperation of the medical profession, hospitals, and clinics
11 throughout the Commonwealth.
12 (b) Divide the Commonwealth into separate health education
13 regions which may correspond to those recommended by or
14 acceptable to the United States Department of Health, Education
15 and Welfare.
16 (c) Survey and inventory, for each region, existing
17 facilities, practicing physicians, allied health professionals,
18 and support facilities and personnel.
19 (d) Examine the economic and social nature of each region.
20 (e) Examine educational standards and career and vocational
21 motivation methods found in each region.
22 (f) Survey and inventory medical school primary care
23 curricula, primary care emphasis, and out-reach or extension
24 programs, as well as medical school standards and admission
25 practices relating to primary care.
26 (g) Give priority in the development of such an integrated
27 plan to those areas of the Commonwealth which have been
28 designated as medically underserved by the Secretary of Health.
29 (h) Liaison with any agency or political subdivision of the
30 Commonwealth or Federal Government, or any other public or
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1 private agency and make recommendations to coordinate the
2 activities of all such agencies or subdivisions in order that
3 there be a single consistent source for planning recommendations
4 for the development of an integrated plan.
5 (i) Develop, coordinate, and establish, in cooperation with
6 any other participating or designated office or agency, a
7 Statewide communication system which will enable the medical
8 profession, hospitals and clinics throughout the Commonwealth to
9 have a direct tie line and instantaneous communication with
10 computer banks and specialists at the medical schools and
11 medical centers.
12 (j) Engage a full-time executive director and staff, some of
13 which members may be assigned from the Departments of Health,
14 Education and Public Welfare in order that there be a foundation
15 for an interdepartmental exchange of information and
16 cooperation, and contract with such consultants as may be deemed
17 necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
18 (k) Provide regular reports which shall include a summary of
19 the actions of the council; evaluations of the programs as
20 implemented; recommendations for changes, improvements, and
21 future programs; and recommendations concerning the funding
22 required for the programs.
23 (l) Assist in organizing the Regional Advisory Committees
24 and provide guidance, procedures, and information necessary in
25 order for the regional committees to carry out their duties.
26 (m) Create such committees as the council may deem
27 appropriate to carry out its duties, and delegate to the
28 committees such powers as the council itself may possess, except
29 that all formal recommendations and all contracts requiring the
30 expenditure of moneys shall be submitted for approval to the
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1 full council.
2 (n) Submit applications to the appropriate agencies for
3 grants, receive and administer funds under such grants, and make
4 recommendations and take appropriate actions to achieve grant
5 eligibility for programs to be established under this act. This
6 section shall in no way preclude a participating institution
7 under this act from submitting, with the advice of the council,
8 grant applications or receiving funds thereunder.
9 Section 5. Executive director.
10 The executive director shall be responsible for implementing
11 the policies and procedures of the council within the purview of
12 the findings as set forth in this act. The executive director
13 shall coordinate the flow of information and activities between
14 the council and the Regional Advisory Committees; assist the
15 council perform the duties as set forth in section 4; report
16 directly to the council; and perform such other appropriate
17 services as the council shall direct.
18 Section 6. Regional Advisory Committees.
19 In each region established by the council pursuant to section
20 4(b), there is hereby created a Regional Advisory Committee to
21 the Pennsylvania Primary Care Medical Education Council. Each
22 committee shall be composed of those representatives from the
23 following classes who desire to serve on the committee and to
24 participate in advising the council in the development and
25 operation of its programs, including the accelerated premedical
26 and integrated medical education curriculum: one representative
27 from each school of medicine or osteopathy, each teaching
28 hospital, each nonteaching hospital, and each undergraduate
29 college or university, all located within the region, and
30 members of the general public from the medically underserved
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1 areas, who represent a social, economic, and geographic cross
2 section of the region. The council shall determine the number of
3 members of the general public to serve on each regional advisory
4 committee, and shall submit recommendations for appointments to
5 the Governor for his review and ultimate selection.
6 Representatives of the medical schools, hospitals and colleges
7 shall, upon application, be permanent members of the committee;
8 and all others shall serve a four-year term except those first
9 appointed in which case, one-half shall be appointed for a
10 three-year term and the remaining half shall be appointed for a
11 four-year term. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the
12 original appointments for the remainder of the unexpired term.
13 Members of each committee shall select a chairman from among its
14 members and a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
15 A majority vote of those present shall be sufficient in the
16 resolution of any matter. The advisory committees shall meet at
17 least twice during each year. Members shall serve voluntarily
18 and receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses
19 incurred in attending meetings.
20 The function of each committee shall be to act in a fact
21 finding and advisory capacity as may be appropriate to the
22 particular region to enable the council to have the best
23 available information in the performance of the council's
24 duties.
25 Section 7. Recommendations for appropriations and
26 administration of appropriations.
27 The council shall have the responsibility of reporting to the
28 Governor's office, to the President Pro tempore of the Senate,
29 and to the Speaker of the House, its findings and
30 recommendations, and further suggestions as to the manner and
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1 amount in which appropriations should be made for the conduct of
2 an accelerated premedical and integrated medical school program,
3 and for such other assistance to primary care medical education.
4 Such recommendations shall include the suggested amounts to be
5 appropriated, qualifications for eligibility of participating
6 institutions, and determinations as to which institutions have
7 met these qualifications and should receive funds.
8 Appropriations made by the General Assembly shall be received by
9 the council and shall be allocated, administered and distributed
10 to the extent required after allocation and distribution of any
11 funds received from other sources.
12 Section 8. Meetings; free access.
13 All meetings of the council and of the regional advisory
14 committees shall be open for any and all interested parties to
15 attend and such parties are encouraged to do so. Notice of the
16 date, time, place and purpose of all meetings shall be properly
17 publicized.
18 Section 9. Appropriations.
19 The sum of $ , or as much thereof as may
20 be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Primary
21 Care Medical Education Council for allocation and distribution
22 to participating colleges, medical schools and hospitals in the
23 accelerated premedical and integrated medical school program and
24 for the purposes of this act; and a further sum of $ ,
25 shall be appropriated for the administration of the council to
26 carry out its powers and duties. Every year thereafter, the
27 General Assembly shall appropriate that amount of funds as it
28 deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
29 Section 10. Scope of act.
30 Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary,
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1 this act shall not be construed to limit or supersede any other
2 appropriations the General Assembly has made or might make
3 relating to assistance to medical education.
4 Section 11. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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