HB 0901

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to an area health education center
3	network; amending s. 381.0402, F.S.; revising provisions
4	relating to the operation of the network; requiring the
5	Department of Health, in cooperation with state medical
6	schools, to maintain and evaluate the network; providing
7	for increased training and education opportunities in
8	medically underserved areas; providing that the network
9	not discriminate among enrollees; authorizing the network
10	to target high-risk medically needy population groups;
11	providing an effective date.
12
13	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15	Section 1.  Section 381.0402, Florida Statutes, is amended
16	to read:
17	381.0402  Area health education center network.--
18	(1)  The department, in cooperation with state the
19	state-approved medical schools approved to form an area health
20	education center network in this state, shall maintain and
21	evaluate organize an area health education center network
22	focused based on earlier medically indigent demonstration
23	projects and shall evaluate the impact of each network on
24	improving access to services by persons who are medically
25	underserved. The network shall serve as be a catalyst for the
26	primary care training of health professionals by increasing
27	training through increased opportunities for training in
28	medically underserved areas, increasing access to primary care
29	services, providing health workforce recruitment, enhancing the
30	quality of care, and addressing current and emerging public
31	health issues.
32	(2)(1)  The department shall contract with state-approved
33	medical schools to assist in funding the an area health
34	education center network which links the provision of primary
35	care services to medically underserved populations low-income
36	persons with the education of:
37	(a)  Medical students, interns, and residents. The network
38	shall:
39	(a)  Be coordinated with and under contract with the state-
40	approved medical schools, which shall be responsible for the
41	clinical training and supervision.
42	1.(b)  Divide the state into service areas with each state-
43	approved medical school coordinating the recruitment recruiting,
44	training, and retention of medical students within its assigned
45	area.
46	2.(d)  Use current community resources such as county
47	health departments, federally funded migrant and community
48	health primary care centers, and or other primary health care
49	providers as community-based sites for training medical
50	students, interns, and residents.
51	3.(c)  Use a multidisciplinary approach with appropriate
52	medical supervision.
53	(b)  Health professions students. The network shall:
54	1.  Facilitate the recruitment, training, and retention of
55	health professions students within service areas.
56	2.  Use community resources such as county health
57	departments, federally funded migrant and community health
58	centers, and other primary health care providers as sites for
59	training health professions students.
60	3.  Use a multidisciplinary approach with appropriate
61	supervision.
62	(c)  Health providers serving medically underserved
63	populations. The network shall:
64	1.  Assist providers in medically underserved areas and
65	other safety net providers in remaining current in their fields
66	through a variety of community resource initiatives.
67	2.  Strengthen the state's health care safety net by
68	enhancing services and increasing access to care in medically
69	underserved areas.
70	3.  Provide other services such as library and information
71	resources, continuing professional education, technical
72	assistance, and other support services for providers serving in
73	medically underserved areas.
74	(3)(2)  The department shall establish criteria and
75	procedures for quality assurance, performance evaluations,
76	periodic audits, and other appropriate safeguards for the
77	network.
78	(4)(3)  The department shall make every effort to assure
79	that the network does participating medical schools do not
80	discriminate among enrollees with respect to age, race, sex, or
81	health status. However, the network such schools may target
82	high-risk medically needy population groups.
83	(5)(4)  The department may use no more than 5 percent of
84	the annual appropriation for administering and evaluating the
85	network.
86	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.