MMA H.B. 2626 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION H.B. 2626 By: Delisi 4-9-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND When medical students are exposed to the option of primary care practice in community settings, they are more likely to choose careers in primary care. Since 1983, the state has funded a statewide family practice preceptorship program that assigns medical students to communitybased family physicians for a four-week period of observance and discussion with the physicianteacher, usually between their first and second year of medical school. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) administers the statewide family practice preceptorship program and subcontracts with the The University of Texas Houston Health Science Center to operate the program. Last session, the Texas Legislature created statewide preceptorship programs in general internal medicine and general pediatrics. Today, with the advent of managed care, the Texas health care infrastructure is experiencing a system-wide shift in financing and delivery. Emphasis is being placed on integrating disease prevention and health promotion services into the delivery of health care. Thus, there exists a growing need for physicians to have an increased awareness of disease prevention and the social, economic, and environmental factors affecting health status. A statewide preceptorship program in public health settings would give medical students the opportunity to further understand these issues. PURPOSE H.B. 2626 would establish a statewide preceptorship program in a public health setting. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 58, Education Code, by adding Section 58.009 as follows: Sec. 58.009. STATEWIDE PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH SETTINGS. (a) Authorizes the THECB to contract with organizations to operate a statewide preceptorship program in a public health setting for medical students in Texas medical schools. (b) Requires that an organization qualify for certain federal income tax exemptions or be operated by a state accredited medical school in order to be eligible to receive funds under this subsection. (c) Requires eligible students to indicate an interest in primary care. (d) Allows the board to create and appoint an advisory committee to assist in the operation of the program. SECTION 2. Emergency clause.