Revision: Jan. 1, 2008, midnight
CHAPTER 367
HB 1615-FN-A – FINAL VERSION
05Mar2008… 0752h
05/01/08 1471s
04Jun2008… 2097cofc
04Jun2008… 2183eba
2008 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1615-FN-A
AN ACT establishing the state office of rural health in the department of health and human services and establishing a commission to recommend policies and programs to increase the number of persons in health professions servicing New Hampshire’s rural and underserved areas.
SPONSORS: Rep. McLeod, Graf 2; Rep. E. Merrick, Coos 2; Rep. Nordgren, Graf 9; Rep. Butler, Carr 1; Sen. Burling, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes the state office of rural health (SORH) in the department of health and human services.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05Mar2008… 0752h
05/01/08 1471s
04Jun2008… 2097cofc
04Jun2008… 2183eba
08-2148
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing the state office of rural health in the department of health and human services and establishing a commission to recommend policies and programs to increase the number of persons in health professions servicing New Hampshire’s rural and underserved areas.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
367:1 Statement of Intent. The general court hereby finds and declares that:
I. There are critical shortages of primary care providers in New Hampshire, and these shortages are projected to increase.
II. New Hampshire does not have a pro-active, statewide organization responsible for measuring, planning, and developing an adequate primary care workforce.
III. Disparities and inequities in the financing of primary care services nationally and in New Hampshire inhibit the development of an optimal primary care workforce.
IV. The state needs to take advantage of new models of primary care delivery that improve the efficiency and the capacity of the health care system.
367:2 New Paragraph; State Office of Rural Health. Amend RSA 126-A:5 by inserting after paragraph XVII the following new paragraph:
XVIII.(a) The commissioner shall establish the state office of rural health (SORH) within the department. The SORH shall:
(1) Link rural health and human service providers with state and federal resources.
(2) Seek long-term solutions to the challenges of rural health.
(3) Increase access to health care in rural and underserved areas of the state.
(4) Improve recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas.
(5) Provide technical assistance and coordination to rural communities and health organizations.
(6) Maintain a clearing house for collecting and disseminating information on rural health care issues and innovative approaches to the delivery of health care in rural areas.
(7) Coordinate rural health interests and activities.
(8) Participate in strengthening state, local, and federal partnerships.
(b) The commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to accomplishing the goals under subparagraph (a).
(c) The commissioner shall submit an annual report beginning on November 1, 2009 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, and the governor on the health status of rural residents incorporating current data from the bureau of health statistics and data management and the SORH.
367:3 Commission Established. There is established a commission to recommend policies and programs related to increasing the number of New Hampshire individuals in health professions servicing New Hampshire’s rural and underserved areas with a focus on primary care.
367:4 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(c) The dean, or designee, from a public health science school, appointed by the president of the institution.
(d) The dean, or designee, from a private health science school, appointed by the president of the institution.
(e) A representative of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.
(f) A representative of the New Hampshire Dental Society, appointed by the society.
(g) A representative of the New Hampshire Mental Health Coalition, appointed by the coalition.
(h) Three representatives from the state’s rural health care facilities, including 2 practitioners and one administrator, appointed by the governor.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
367:5 Duties.
I. The commission’s study shall include, but not be limited to, a recommendation of policies and programs related to increasing the number of New Hampshire citizens in health professions serving New Hampshire’s rural and underserved areas with a focus on primary care. The commission shall also:
(a) Suggest a sustainable model to pro-actively measure, plan, and develop the state’s primary care workforce.
(b) Suggest incentives and programs to recruit and retain primary care providers in New Hampshire.
(c) Recommend models of private and public partnerships that will enable the development of “grow our own” and health career pipeline programs and will build effective relationships with state and regional health care professional schools to increase the numbers of New Hampshire students who are admitted.
(d) Recommend models for financing and delivery of primary care services that improve efficiency and health outcomes.
II. The commission may solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.
367:6 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
367:7 Report. The commission shall make an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the state library, the house health, human services and elderly affairs committee, and the senate health and human services committee, and the oversight committee on health and human services on or before November 1, 2008 and a final report on or before November 1, 2009.
367:8 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2009.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 11, 2008
Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect January 1,2009.
II. Remainder shall take effect July 11, 2008.