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2000 SESSION


CHAPTER 200
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-122.20, 32.1-122.21, and 32.1-122.22, relating to health workforce recruitment and retention.
[S 489]
Approved March 24, 2000

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-122.20, 32.1-122.21, and 32.1-122.22, as follows:

Article 8.
Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention.

§ 32.1-122.20. Recruitment and retention of health care providers.

The Commissioner shall direct the Commonwealth's activities and programs for recruiting and retaining health care providers for underserved populations, underserved areas, and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) designated throughout the Commonwealth. The duties and responsibilities of the Commissioner shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Designating and updating as necessary the designation of underserved areas that meet the criteria established by the Board pursuant to § 32.1-122.5;

2. Designating and updating as necessary those areas of the state which meet the criteria of dental, primary care and mental health professional shortage areas as provided in 42 C.F.R. Part 5;

3. Administering the scholarship and loan repayment programs pursuant to Article 6 (§ 32.1-122.5 et seq.) of this chapter as well as any other programs or activities authorized in the appropriation act for recruiting and retaining providers for the Commonwealth's underserved populations, underserved areas and HPSAs;

4. Recruiting health care providers, residents, and students in Virginia and other states to care for Virginia's underserved populations and practice in underserved areas and HPSAs throughout the Commonwealth;

5. Publicizing the functions, programs, and activities of the Department available to assist providers in establishing a practice in underserved areas and HPSAs throughout the Commonwealth;

6. Coordinating the Department's health workforce activities with other state agencies as well as public and private entities in Virginia involved in health workforce training, recruitment, and retention;

7. Identifying and recommending to the Governor and the General Assembly new programs, activities, and strategies for increasing the number of providers practicing in Virginia's underserved areas and HPSAs and serving Virginia's underserved populations; and

8. Submitting annual reports, as required in § 32.1-122.22, on the activities, accomplishments, and future plans of the Department in recruiting and retaining providers for underserved populations, underserved areas and HPSAs throughout the Commonwealth.

§ 32.1-122.21. Health Workforce Advisory Committee.

The Commissioner shall establish a Health Workforce Advisory Committee to advise him on all aspects of the Department's health workforce duties and responsibilities identified in this article. The Health Workforce Advisory Committee shall include representatives of (i) each of the Commonwealth's academic health centers; (ii) the Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program; (iii) the Virginia Primary Care Association; (iv) the Virginia Health Care Foundation; (v) the Virginia Association of Free Clinics; (vi) the Virginia Association of Nurse Executives; (vii) health care providers; (viii) health professions residents and students; and (ix) other organizations as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner.

§ 32.1-122.22. Annual report of health workforce activities.

The Commissioner shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Department's activities in recruiting and retaining health care providers for underserved populations and areas and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) throughout the Commonwealth. The annual report shall include, but not be limited to, information on: (i) the activities and accomplishments of the Department during the report period; (ii) planned activities for the coming year; (iii) the number and type of providers who have been recruited to care for Virginia's underserved populations and practice in underserved areas and HPSAs in Virginia as a result of Department activities; (iv) the retention rate of providers who have located in underserved areas and HPSAs as a result of Department activities; (v) the utilization of the scholarship and loan repayment programs authorized in Article 6 (§ 32.1-122.5 et seq.) of this chapter as well as other programs or activities authorized in the appropriation act for provider recruitment and retention; and (vi) recommendations for new programs, activities and strategies for increasing the number of providers in Virginia's underserved areas and HPSAs and serving Virginia's underserved populations. The annual report shall be submitted by October 1 of each year.