The bill proposes the establishment of the "Primary Care Training Sites Program" within Title 23 of the General Laws, specifically as a new chapter (Chapter 17.29). This program is designed to enhance primary care training and is to be administered by the Department of Health. The bill outlines the creation of an office within the department, which will assist in developing grant application processes, provide oversight of grant recipients, coordinate meetings, and establish evidence-based standards for measuring the success of the program. Definitions are provided for terms such as "Director," "Grant," "National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)," "Patient-centered medical home (PCMH)," "Primary care," and "Primary care site."
The bill also details the authority of the director to enter into contracts with primary care sites, with each contract not to exceed $90,000 per recipient per year. These sites must serve as enhanced interdisciplinary clinical training sites, maintain NCQA PCMH distinction, provide integrated behavioral health services, and offer a curriculum of training for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Additionally, the bill requires the director to report annually to the General Assembly and the Governor on the program's status and progress. The act includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the chapter is found invalid, the remainder will still be in effect. The proposed act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.