KRS 164.937: Center of Excellence in Rural Health.

(1) The University of Kentucky shall maintain a Center of Excellence in Rural

Health.

(2) The mission of the Center of Excellence in Rural Health shall be the

improvement of the health of all rural Kentuckians and the improvement of rural

health care systems through education, research, and service.

(3) The Center of Excellence in Rural Health shall:

(a) Support a site-based director, core faculty, and staff;

(b) Collect and maintain statistical and other information relating to rural

health status, rural health care systems, rural health policy, and other

issues affecting the health and well-being of rural populations;

(c) Collect, analyze, interpret, disseminate, and make recommendations

regarding the availability, distribution, and sufficiency of the health

professions workforce;

(d) Provide educational opportunities for students committed to rural health

care:

1. To obtain education in needed health professions as determined by

the workforce analyses, rotating these programs as necessary;

2. By testing and developing innovative models for learning; and

3. By reserving funds budgeted for specific educational programs that

in the future are deemed no longer necessary for use for educational

programs for other health professions;

(e) Maintain site-based family practice residencies;

(f) Serve as the federally designated Office of Rural Health and perform the

duties prescribed by the United States Health Resources and Services

Administration;

(g) Administer the Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program established under

KRS 164.936;

(h) Demonstrate or provide innovative programs that improve the health of

rural Kentuckians and strengthen rural health care systems; and

(i) Advocate for rural health care.

(4) To the extent additional funds are appropriated, the Center of Excellence in

Rural Health shall establish additional sites throughout the Commonwealth as

necessary to achieve the mission of the center.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the study of rural health

policies, workforce analyses, or the training of health professionals in or for

rural or medically underserved areas by other state universities.

(6) The University of Kentucky shall report to the Council on Postsecondary

Education and the Legislative Research Commission a detailed, audited

statement of expenditures for each program function in the Center of

Excellence for Rural Health Care by September 1 of each year which

enumerates expenditures for the preceding fiscal year.