SENATE DOCKET, NO. 986        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 690

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John F. Keenan

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting workforce development and provider retention at community health centers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/24/2019

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

1/28/2019

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

1/30/2019

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

1/30/2019

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

1/30/2019

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

1/30/2019

Cindy F. Friedman

Fourth Middlesex

1/31/2019

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

1/31/2019

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Bristol

2/1/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/6/2019

Joan Meschino

3rd Plymouth

2/25/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

5/6/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 986        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 690

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 690) of John F. Keenan, Jason M. Lewis, Thomas M. Stanley, William N. Brownsberger and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote workforce development and provider retention at community health centers.  Health Care Financing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act promoting workforce development and provider retention at community health centers.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:

Section 78. The division shall establish a community health center Nurse Practitioner residency program for the purposes of recruiting and retaining Nurse Practitioners at community health centers in order to increase access to high-quality community-based primary and preventative care.

These programs shall:

(i) Provide a 24- month post-graduate residency program, administered by community health centers, defined as community health centers receiving a grant under 42 USC 254b, for certified Nurse Practitioners who have graduated from an accredited school of nursing within the past three years;

(ii) Provide Nurse Practitioners in the program with patient panels under the supervision and mentorship of a physician or other Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at a community health center, and;

(iii) Encourage Nurse Practitioners to continue careers in primary care or other fields at community health centers.

Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to conflict with, replace, or supersede any licensure requirements or standards for the advanced nursing practice established pursuant to chapters 94C or 112.

SECTION 2. The division shall make expenditures of no less than $2,500,000 annually to this program and shall seek federal Medicaid reimbursement for this program as graduate medical education.

SECTION 3. The division shall promulgate regulations to implement said program, including program details and grant guidelines as necessary, no later than six months after the passage of this act.