AB618,,112023 ASSEMBLY BILL 618
November 3, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Novak, Snyder, Bare, Armstrong, Billings, Brandtjen, C. Anderson, Donovan, Doyle, Edming, Hurd, Joers, Kitchens, Kurtz, McGuire, Moses, Mursau, O’Connor, Ohnstad, Oldenburg, Ortiz-Velez, Rozar, Schmidt, Schutt and Tranel, cosponsored by Senators Quinn, Tomczyk, Carpenter, Cowles, Felzkowski, Marklein, Pfaff and Spreitzer. Referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care.
AB618,,22An Act to repeal 146.63 (6) (a) to (e) and 146.64 (4) (a) to (e); to renumber and amend 146.63 (6) (intro.), 146.64 (2) (a) and 146.64 (4) (intro.); to amend 20.435 (4) (bf), 146.64 (2) (c) 1. and 146.64 (3); and to create 146.64 (2) (a) 2., 146.64 (3m) and 146.645 of the statutes; relating to: expanding graduate medical training grants and making an appropriation.
AB618,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the Department of Health Services must distribute grants to rural hospitals to establish graduate medical training (GMT) programs in a specialty and to hospitals with existing GMT programs in a specialty to support the addition of new positions in the programs. Current law includes a nonexhaustive list of specialties in which a hospital’s GMT program may specialize in order to be eligible for a grant. This bill removes that list but retains the specialty requirement for grant eligibility.
Under current law, the maximum amount of a grant DHS may distribute in a fiscal year to a hospital with an existing GMT program to support the addition of new positions in the program is $225,000. The bill removes that $225,000 maximum. The bill also requires DHS to renew grant funding to hospitals with existing GMT programs that received a grant in the previous fiscal year, without requiring the hospital to reapply for the grant, provided the hospital still meets eligibility criteria established by DHS, maintains an accredited GMT program, and wishes to receive grant funding.
In addition, the bill creates a new grant program under which DHS is required to distribute up to $375,000 in annual grants, plus any matching federal Medical Assistance funds, to support GMT consortia. Under the bill, a GMT consortium is defined as an independent, nonprofit organization formed by two or more entities to oversee, support, and administer accredited GMT programs at rural hospitals. The bill requires DHS to distribute grants to GMT consortia that apply for the grant and meet certain requirements. DHS must also renew grant funding to GMT consortia that received the grant in the previous fiscal year, without requiring the consortium to reapply for the grant, provided the consortium still meets the grant requirements and wishes to receive grant funding. DHS must give preference in awarding the grants to GMT consortia that oversee, support, and administer GMT programs at rural hospitals that have limited access to federal GMT funding from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Under the bill, a GMT consortium must be accredited within 12 months of receiving a grant, and a GMT consortium may not receive renewed grant funding if the consortium is not accredited.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.