BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)   PHYSICIANS ENGAGED IN FAMILY PRACTICE ARE IN
VERY SHORT SUPPLY IN THIS STATE AND THAT THE CURRENT
EMPHASIS ON SPECIALIZATION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION HAS RESULTED
IN A SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS TRAINED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO FAMILIES;

(2)    THE NEED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED FAMILY
PHYSICIANS TO TREAT THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS
IS CRITICAL;

(3)    THE SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
PRACTICING IN THIS STATE CAN BE IMPROVED BY INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTS TRAINING IN ACCREDITED FAMILY PRACTICE
PROGRAMS IN THIS STATE; AND

(4)   THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE TRAINING IN FAMILY PRACTICE
AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE FAMILY PHYSICIANS
IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF THIS STATE.

(C)   ESTABLISHED.

(1)     THERE IS A MARYLAND FAMILY PRACTICE
RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR
RESIDENTS TRAINING IN ACCREDITED FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY
PROGRAMS IN THIS STATE. THIS SUPPORT SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED
AMONG THE HOSPITALS IN THIS STATE THAT OFFER ACCREDITED
FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

(2)   THESE RESIDENCIES SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO
AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY RESIDENCIES PRESENTLY FUNDED BY
THESE HOSPITALS.

(D)   QUALIFICATIONS OF RECIPIENT.

EACH RECIPIENT OF A FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY SHALL:

(1)   BE A GRADUATE OF AN APPROVED MEDICAL SCHOOL;

(2)    HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED IN AN ACCREDITED FAMILY
PRACTICE RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN THIS STATE; AND

(3) FURNISH A SURETY BOND TO THIS STATE IN THE
AMOUNT OF $15,000 WITH SURETY SATISFACTORY TO THE STATE
SCHOLARSHIP BOARD CONDITIONED THAT AFTER HE COMPLETES THE
FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY, HE WILL ENGAGE IN FAMILY PRACTICE
IN AN AREA DETERMINED TO BE AN AREA OF NEED UNDER SUBSECTION
(G) OF THIS SECTION FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 1 YEAR.

(E)   NUMBER, AMOUNT, AND USE OF RESIDENCY.

(1)    EACH YEAR, 20 FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCIES
SHALL BE AWARDED.

(2)   EACH FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY: