N.Y. Public Health Law § 236-a: Study of health professional employment incentives

§ 236-a. Study of health professional employment incentives. 1. The

legislature hereby finds and declares that:

a. Some parts of rural New York are suffering from physician and nurse

practitioner shortages forcing residents to forego proper care or travel

long distances to receive health care. Rural areas have particular

characteristics such as low population density, inadequate

transportation, increasing elderly population, and a lack of economies

of scale. These issues make recruiting and retaining physicians and

nurse practitioners in rural areas more challenging than in suburban and

urban settings.

b. Therefore it is incumbent upon the state to provide incentives and

assistance to physicians and nurse practitioners willing to practice in

these shortage areas.

2. The Charles D. Cook office of rural health, in consultation with

the rural health council, is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a

study to analyze incentive options to encourage physicians and nurse

practitioners to practice in rural, underserved areas. The report shall

contain, but not be limited to, evaluations of the following incentive

options: high needs service bonuses, signing bonuses, tax credits, small

business assistance for beginning practices, programs designed to

recruit high school students, and rural medical education tracks in

medical schools. The report shall contain an analysis of current state

level loan repayment programs and their effectiveness and may consider

any similar local programs. The report shall also provide information on

federal programs and their impact on New York state rural physician and

nurse practitioner recruitment. The study shall make recommendations as

to which incentives are the most effective in recruitment and retention

of such health professionals.

3. The director of the Charles D. Cook office of rural health is

hereby directed to prepare and present to the legislature, on or before

March first of the year next succeeding the effective date of this

section, a report containing a summary of its findings and

recommendations.