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3212
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Ch. 798
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LAWS OF MARYLAND
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to read as follows:
Article 77A — Higher Education
61B.
(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:
(1) THERE IS A SHORTAGE AND MALDISTRIBUTION
OF PRIMARY CASE PRACTITIONERS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE
STATE, IN PARTICULAR THE RURAL AND INNER CITY AREAS, ARE
NOT BEING MET.
(2) ONE OF THE MECHANISMS OF ALLEVIATING THE
SHORTAGE AND MALDISTRIBUTION IS TO INCREASE THE
EFFICIENCY OF PROVIDERS. THE UTILIZATION OF PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS HAS BEEN FOUND TO
INCREASE THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF MEDICAL CARE.
(3) THE PROBLEMS IN PRIMARY CARE SERVICES
AVAILABILITY WITHIN THE STATE CAN BE ATTENUATED BY
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE
PRACTITIONERS WITHIN THE STATE. THIS FACT HAS BEEN
DEMONSTRATED BY THE SUCCESSFUL PILOT TRAINING PROGRAMS
CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE STATE WHERE THE GRADUATES ARE
FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY IN THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM IN
AREAS OF NEED.
(4) THE STATE HAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARYLAND FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY
PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION ENABLING THE DELEGATION OF TASKS
TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS THAT IT
HAS A ROLE IN ASSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF PRIMARY CARE
RESOURCES AND THAT THIS ROLE HAS A HIGH PRIORITY.
(5) THE COST OF EDUCATING PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS FAR EXCEEDS THE
TUITION REVENUE RECEIVED BY TRAINING INSTITUTIONS.
ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRAINING FOR A PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT OR NURSE PRACTITIONER IS LESS THAN THAT OF
EDUCATING A PHYSICIAN, AN INTENSIVE CLINICAL EDUCATION IS
STILL REQUIRED.
(6) IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO PROVIDE FOR A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS RECEIVING
TRAINING IN PRIMARY CARE.
(B) (1) IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND
PHRASES HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.
(2) "PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT" MEANS AN
INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM DUTIES ARE DELEGATED BY A LICENSED
PHYSICIAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS PROMULGATED
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF §123 122 (6) OF ARTICLE 43 OF THIS
CODE.
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