ยง 236-a. Study of health professional employment incentives. 1. The
legislature hereby finds and declares that:
a. Some parts of rural New York are suffering from physician and nurse
practitioner shortages forcing residents to forego proper care or travel
long distances to receive health care. Rural areas have particular
characteristics such as low population density, inadequate
transportation, increasing elderly population, and a lack of economies
of scale. These issues make recruiting and retaining physicians and
nurse practitioners in rural areas more challenging than in suburban and
urban settings.
b. Therefore it is incumbent upon the state to provide incentives and
assistance to physicians and nurse practitioners willing to practice in
these shortage areas.
2. The Charles D. Cook office of rural health, in consultation with
the rural health council, is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a
study to analyze incentive options to encourage physicians and nurse
practitioners to practice in rural, underserved areas. The report shall
contain, but not be limited to, evaluations of the following incentive
options: high needs service bonuses, signing bonuses, tax credits, small
business assistance for beginning practices, programs designed to
recruit high school students, and rural medical education tracks in
medical schools. The report shall contain an analysis of current state
level loan repayment programs and their effectiveness and may consider
any similar local programs. The report shall also provide information on
federal programs and their impact on New York state rural physician and
nurse practitioner recruitment. The study shall make recommendations as
to which incentives are the most effective in recruitment and retention
of such health professionals.
3. The director of the Charles D. Cook office of rural health is
hereby directed to prepare and present to the legislature, on or before
March first of the year next succeeding the effective date of this
section, a report containing a summary of its findings and
recommendations.