The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act relative to creating a grant program for medical students. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter
15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby
amended by adding after section 19A the following section:—
Section 19B. There shall be a grant program for the purpose of encouraging
outstanding students to enlist in the doctor and nursing facilities that
service uninsured and low-income patients in the commonwealth by providing
financial assistance for students enrolled in any qualified education program
that is necessary to obtain a medical license, as defined below. The program
shall be administered by the department of public health in accordance with
guidelines promulgated by the department of public health. The program shall be
subject to appropriation.
The term “qualified education program” shall mean any program at an accredited
educational facility that must be completed in order to obtain a degree in the
medical field, or to obtain a medical practitioner’s license.
The council shall promulgate guidelines governing the grant program for doctors
and nurses. These guidelines shall include the following provisions:
(1) Eligibility for the program shall be limited to persons who have graduated
in the top 15 per cent of their undergraduate classes or who have graduated
with honors designations, as certified by the institution attended by any such
applicant;
(2) Eligibility shall be limited to persons entering the doctor or nursing
education program after July 1, 2005 who have signed a contract stating that
they will work in a health clinic, established doctor’s office or medical
facility that treats patients who are uninsured, or low-income, while they are
attending school. These specific facilities will be deemed by the Public
Health department;
(3) The commonwealth shall pay a participating doctor’s or nurse’s costs
incurred in being enrolled in a qualified education program at a rate not to
exceed $150.00 per month for a period not to exceed 48 months;
(4) Repayment shall be made to the participating doctor or nurse annually upon
the presentation by the participating doctor or nurse of satisfactory evidence
of enrollment in qualified education program, as well as satisfactory service
to the commonwealth through medical facilities that treat low-income or
uninsured patients;
(5) Payments by
the commonwealth shall cover only costs made by the participating nurse or
doctor in the months during which the participating nurse or doctor is actively
enrolled in the education program in the commonwealth, and working with a
designated medical facility;
(6) The program will be limited to doctors and nurses who sign a contract to
practice in health care facilities designated by the department of public
health as caring for low-income or uninsured patients.
Expenses for administration of the program may be retained in an interest
bearing trust fund to be established by the department of public health and
expended for the costs of administering the program without further
appropriation, and any funds remaining in the trust at the termination of the
program shall be returned of the General Fund..