RURAL HEALTH; FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY PROGRAM

(a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, medical schools, nursing schools, and schools of allied health sciences shall cooperate to improve and expand programs for rural areas. (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall: (1) encourage and coordinate the creation or expansion of a rural preceptor program among medical schools, teaching hospitals, nursing schools, and schools of allied health sciences; and (2) require family practice residency programs to provide an opportunity for residents to have a one-month rotation through: (A) a rural setting; and (B) a public health setting. (c) The Texas Department of Rural Affairs shall develop relief service programs for rural physicians and allied health personnel to facilitate ready access to continuing medical education as well as to provide practice coverage for purposes other than continuing medical education. (d) Each medical school shall: (1) incorporate a clerkship in family practice during the third core clinical year; and (2) report to the legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on its efforts to fulfill the intent of Chapter 58, Education Code, of having at least 25 percent of their first year primary care residents in family practice.