SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1165        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 757

 

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

 

John J. Cronin

Worcester and Middlesex

1/27/2023

Rodney M. Elliott

16th Middlesex

1/30/2023

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

1/30/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/30/2023

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/2/2023

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

2/2/2023

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/7/2023

Pavel M. Payano

First Essex

2/15/2023

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/17/2023

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

2/22/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

2/24/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

3/6/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

3/24/2023

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

4/27/2023

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

5/22/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1165        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 757

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 757) of John F. Keenan, John J. Cronin, Rodney M. Elliott, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote workforce development and provider retention at community health centers.  Health Care Financing.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 777 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

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 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section 80. 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, preventative and integrated 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) Require nurse practitioners that participate in the 24-month residency program enter into a contract with the community health center for at least eighteen months of employment.

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.