An Act to expand eligibility for the rural recruitment assistance program to include chiropractors and optometrists.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 34-12G-1 be AMENDED:

34-12G-1. The Department of Health may establish a program to assist rural communities in recruiting physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives the following health care professionals:

(1) Certified nurse midwives;

(2) Certified nurse practitioners;

(3) Chiropractors;

(4) Dentists;

(5) Optometrists;

(6) Physicians; and

(7) Physician assistants.

Section 2. That § 34-12G-3 be AMENDED:

34-12G-3. A physician is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the physician is licensed to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 36-4 and has completed an accredited residency program in family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology obstetrics and gynecology, and if the physician agrees to practice in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years. No more than fifteen physicians may participate in the program at any specified one time. Preference shall must be given to physicians who have graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and completed an accredited residency program located in South Dakota this state.

A dentist is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the dentist is licensed to practice dentistry pursuant to chapter 36-6A and agrees to practice general or pediatric dentistry in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years. No more than five dentists may participate in the program at any specified time.

A physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife is licensed to practice pursuant to chapter 36-4A or chapter 36-9A, respectively, and has completed an accredited physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife program and if the person agrees to practice as a primary care physician assistant, family certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years.

A certified registered nurse anesthetist is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the nurse is authorized to practice the nursing specialty of nurse anesthesia, as described in § 36-9-3.1, and agrees to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years.

No more than a cumulative total of fifteen physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, or certified registered nurse anesthetists may participate in the program at any specified time.

Section 3. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 34-12G:

A dentist is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the dentist is licensed to practice dentistry pursuant to chapter 36-6A and agrees to practice general or pediatric dentistry in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years. No more than five dentists may participate in the program at any one time.

Section 4. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 34-12G:

A chiropractor is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the chiropractor is licensed pursuant to chapter 36-5 and agrees to a general practice in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years. No more than two chiropractors may participate in the program at any one time.

Section 5. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 34-12G:

An optometrist is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if the optometrist is licensed pursuant to chapter 36-7 and agrees to a general practice in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years. No more than two optometrists may participate in the program at any one time.

Section 6. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 34-12G:

A physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist is eligible to participate in the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, if:

(1) The physician assistant:

(a) Is licensed to practice pursuant to chapter 36-4A and has completed an accredited physician assistant program; and

(b) Agrees to practice as a primary care physician assistant in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years;

(2) The certified nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife:

(a) Is licensed to practice pursuant to chapter 36-9A and has completed an accredited certified nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife program; and

(b) Agrees to practice as a family certified nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years; or

(3) The certified registered nurse anesthetist:

(a) Is authorized to practice the nursing specialty of nurse anesthesia, as described in § 36-9-3.1; and

(b) Agrees to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist in an eligible rural community for a minimum period of three years.

No more than a cumulative total of fifteen physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, or certified registered nurse anesthetists may participate in the program at any one time.

Section 7. That § 34-12G-4 be AMENDED:

34-12G-4. A physician or, dentist, chiropractor, or optometrist who fulfills the requirements of the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, is entitled to receive an incentive payment in an amount equal to twice the University of South Dakota School of Medicine resident tuition for the four most recently completed academic years.

A physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist who fulfills the requirements of the recruitment assistance program established pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, is entitled to receive an incentive payment in an amount equal to twice the University of South Dakota resident tuition for physician assistant studies for the three most recently completed academic years.

Section 8. That § 34-12G-5 be AMENDED:

34-12G-5. Any agreement for the payment of A rural community participating in the recruitment assistance pursuant to §§ 34-12G-1 to 34-12G-9, inclusive, shall obligate the rural community to be served by a physician, dentist, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife to must provide a portion of the total amount of the incentive payment for the health care professional who agrees to serve the community, based on the following criteria: communities

(1) A community of two thousand five hundred persons or less fewer shall provide twenty-five percent of incentive payments; communities

(2) A community of more than two thousand five hundred persons and less fewer than five thousand persons shall provide fifty percent of incentive payments; and all remaining eligible communities

(3) A community of more than five thousand persons shall provide seventy-five percent of incentive payments.

When the rural community certifies to the secretary of health that it has paid the full amount for which it is obligated, the secretary of the Department of Health shall pay to the physician, dentist, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife health care professional the remaining balance of the total incentive payment amount. The secretary shall pay the required amount out of funds appropriated by the Legislature for such that purpose. The incentive payment shall must be paid upon completion of the required three-year practice period by the physician, dentist, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife health care professional. However, a A community may pay its portion of the incentive payment at any time during the three-year period.