Biennial report to General Assembly

The board shall make a biennial report to the General Assembly of its activities under the provisions of this article. Such report shall include the name of each recipient of a loan made under the provisions of this article, the amount of each such loan, and the rural area in which the recipient is practicing medicine. Such report shall include the name of each recipient of a grant made under the provisions of this article, the amount of each such grant, and the rural area in which the recipient is located. Such report shall also report the amount of administrative expenses incurred by the board in carrying out the provisions of this article. History. — Code 1981, § 31-34-9, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1234, § 1; Ga. L. 2010, p. 322, § 1/HB 866; Ga. L. 2018, p. 132, § 6/HB 769. 911 31-34-20 The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, substituted ‘‘this article’’ for ‘‘this chapter’’ throughout this Code section. ARTICLE 2 GRANT PROGRAM Effective date. — This article became effective July 1, 2018. 31-34-20. Grant program for physicians serving underserved rural areas; eligibility qualifications; time of practice; rules and regulations. (a) Subject to appropriations, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce shall establish a grant program for the purpose of increasing the number of physicians who remain in Georgia to practice in medically underserved rural areas of the state. The grant program shall provide medical malpractice insurance premium assistance for physicians practicing in such medically underserved rural areas of the state, as identified by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce pursuant to Code Section 49-10-3. (b) To be eligible to receive a grant under the grant program, a physician shall meet the following qualifications: (1) Maintain a practice in a medically underserved rural area of the state; (2) Be licensed to practice in this state and board certified; (3) Complete a minimum of 100 hours of continuing medical education as approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board; (4) Provide weekend or extended hours; and (5) Accept Medicaid and medicare patients. (c) A physician receiving a grant pursuant to the grant program shall agree to practice medicine in such medically underserved rural areas of the state for a period of time determined by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. (d) The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce may adopt and prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer and carry out the grant program provided for in this chapter. In establishing the amount of grants, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce shall determine the average insurance premium rates for physicians in rural areas of this state. 912 History. — Code 1981, § 31-34-20, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 132, § 6/HB 769; Ga. L. 2019, p. 224, § 2/SB 207. The 2019 amendment, effective July 31-34-20 1, 2019, substituted ‘‘Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce’’ for ‘‘Georgia Board for Physician Workforce’’ throughout the Code section. 913 T.31, C.35 HEALTH 31-35-1 CHAPTER 35 VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS Article 1 General Provisions Sec. 31-35-1. 31-35-2. 31-35-3. Legislative findings.