BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

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(1)   IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE
THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)     "MEDICAL EDUCATION CENTER" MEANS AN
INSTITUTION:

(I)   WHOSE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE EDUCATION OF
MEDICAL AND ALLIED HEALTH PERSONNEL; AND

(II)     THAT HAS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS OR FULL
DEPARTMENTS IN AT LEAST THREE PRIMARY CASE AREAS.

(3)    "NURSE PRACTITIONER" MEANS A NURSE
PRACTITIONER AS DEFINED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
STATE BOARD OF EXAMINEES OF NURSES.

(4)   "PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL TO
WHOM DUTIES ARE DELEGATED BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN UNDER THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL
EXAMINERS.

(5)    "PRIMARY CARE" MEANS FAMILY PRACTICE,
GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE, AND GENERAL PEDIATRICS.

(B) STATEMENT OF POLICY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)     THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PRIMARY CARE
PRACTITIONERS IN THIS STATE, PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL AND
INNER CITY AREAS;

(2)    ONE WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM IS TO
INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF PROVIDERS BY USING PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS;

(3)    ANOTHER WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM IS BY
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE
PRACTITIONERS IN THIS STATE AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
SUCCESSFUL PILOT TRAINING PROGRAMS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN
THIS STATE WHERE THE GRADUATES ARE FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY
IN THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM IN AREAS OF NEED;

(4)    THIS STATE HAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARYLAND FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY
PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION PERMITTING PHYSICIANS TO DELEGATE
TASKS TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS THAT
IT HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ASSURING THAT PRIMARY CARE
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE;

(5)   THE COST OF EDUCATING A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
OR NURSE PRACTITIONER IS MORE THAN THE TUITION RECEIVED AND
ALTHOUGH LESS THAN THE COST OF EDUCATING A PHYSICIAN, IT IS
STILL EXPENSIVE; AND

(6)   THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND NURSE
PRACTITIONERS TRAINED IN PRIMARY CARE SHOULD BE INCREASED.