Last Updated: Jun 22, 2023
This week, the Senate Health Committee approved Senate Bill 817, legislation that will allow physicians, CRNPs, and PAs to satisfy their clinical rotation requirements in a participating Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHCs). Introduced by Senator Michele Brooks (R-50th District), the bill seeks to ensure the proper training and incentivizing for primary care, dental and behavioral health students to learn and work in Pennsylvania and serve our underserved populations with affordable, quality health care.
PAMED member George Garrow, MD, chief executive officer at The Primary Health Network a FQHC in Senator Brooks’ district, helped to draft the bill.
Garrow said, “To help address the critical shortage of primary care providers in many of Pennsylvania’s rural and underserved communities, we recognize the importance of offering physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants valuable and meaningful clinical experiences in these communities. Senate Bill 817 would provide support for these experiences, in the hopes that the trainees will better understand and appreciate the joy of caring for patients in patient-centered and mission-driven settings like community health centers.”
One of the goals of this program is to expose clinicians to the advantages and personal rewards of practicing in rural and underserved communities and will hopefully entice these future providers to return to rural communities after their training. PAMED supports this legislation and encourages you to reach out and thank Senator Brooks for her advocacy efforts.