Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program Act

Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program Act, HB 3058 creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program to establish new residency programs affiliated with the state’s two medical schools in eligible hospitals. The program will be administered by the Physician Manpower Training Commission (PMTC) and is subject to the availability of funding. The PMTC is authorized to designate, contract with and provide funding to hospitals for the creation of the new programs. It is directed to monitor the progress of the programs, provide assistance to ensure the programs become funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and report to the Governor and Legislature annually on its progress.

The PMTC also is directed to establish a residency training advisory board to advise the commission, assist in the program development process, and ensure priority of rural and underserved areas of the state. The board will consist of the deans of the two medical schools, the director of the OSU Center for Rural Health and representatives of statewide associations of community-based health care providers and hospitals. The measure creates the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program Revolving Fund for monies received by the PMTC from state funds, federal funds, grants, contracts, and private gifts for the program.

Though the measure specifies that implementation of new residency training programs is to be subject to the availability of funding, the Governor and the Physician Manpower Training Commission would like to fund 8 residents at each of 5 rural hospitals (for a total of 40), at $75,000 each, for a total of $3,000,000.  The Commission anticipates the need for funding for a minimum of two years, after which federal funding will be available for program maintenance.

This bill has passed the house 91 to 2 and has been reported Do Pass by Health and Human Services committee.