Primary care residency programs: grant program.

Existing federal and state laws contain programs that authorize loan forgiveness to physicians, dentists, and individuals enrolled in a postsecondary institution studying medicine or dentistry who agree to practice in medically or dentally underserved areas. Under existing law, the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program was created by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for the purpose of awarding grants to teaching health centers for the purpose of establishing new accredited or expanded primary care residency programs. This bill would establish the Teaching Health Center Primary Care Graduate Medical Education Fund for purposes of funding primary care residency programs, as specified, subject to appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would establish criteria for the awarding of grants under these provisions to teaching health centers, as defined. The bill would require the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the Director of Statewide Health Planning and Development to administer these provisions, as specified. The bill would require the office to adopt emergency regulations to implement these provisions. The bill would provide that its provisions are subject to an appropriation in the Budget Act for these purposes.