SB 5502 - DIGEST
(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

Finds that there is a critical shortage of primary care physicians in the state especially in rural areas.

Declares an intent to create incentives for medical school students to choose primary care practice for their medical careers.

Establishes the primary care physician conditional tuition waiver program to be administered by the University of Washington.

Creates the primary care physician conditional tuition waiver account.

Provides that, within funds appropriated to the department of health for this purpose, and with the goal of increasing the number of family medicine residency positions at community health centers, and thereby increasing the number of family medicine physicians working in underserved settings, a family medicine residency training grant program is created.

Creates the family medicine residency training account.

Requires funding for graduate medical education to be directed toward residents in training in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics who plan to pursue primary care following their residency programs.