Amendment #536 to H4400

State Funding for Graduate Medical Education

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any state-level funding appropriated for Graduate Medical Education (GME), whether provided by the Department of Mental Health or some other source, shall be dependent on the condition that participating hospitals shall provide to residents and fellows participating in its GME program instruction concerning the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment strategies related to opioid addiction and use and chronic pain management; provided, however, that such instruction may also be provided to other students and providers including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers working within the hospital or in the outpatient setting.

Participating hospitals may develop an internal training program, enter into a partnership with a school or university, or provide financial support for residents and fellows to participate in educational programs or conferences that provide continuing medical education credits, specifically focused on the subject area of opioid use and addiction or chronic pain management in order to satisfy the requirements of this section.

Participating hospitals shall file a report with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services no later than one year following the effective date of this act to document compliance.”