HB2351 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 03261 LNS 13283 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2351

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. William E Hauter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2325/30 new
30 ILCS 105/5.1028 new
110 ILCS 205/9.45 new

Amends the Comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Planning Act. Requires the State Healthcare Workforce Council to coordinate the State's health workforce education and training to develop a health workforce that meets the State's health care needs. Requires the Council to work with graduate medical education and training programs, health professions, and consumer representatives to address specified issues. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish a program to provide: (1) funding for medical residency positions that are not funded by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or other established funding source; (2) technical assistance for entities that wish to establish a residency program; and (3) startup funding for entities that wish to establish a residency program. Sets forth provisions concerning the application process and priority. Requires the Board to establish an application process for an entity seeking funding. Provides that the State Healthcare Workforce Council shall provide information annually to the Board related to workforce shortages to assist in the development of the application and shall be responsible for reviewing applications and making recommendations to the Board regarding funding recipients. Creates the Medical Residency Education Fund to expand graduate medical education opportunities in the State and maximize the delivery of medical care and physician services to specific areas of the State where there is a recognized unmet priority need for medical care and physician services. Makes other changes. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Expanding Medical Residency Opportunities in Illinois Law.

Section 3. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) there is a significant shortage of physicians in rural and underserved areas throughout the State; and

(2) supporting the development of a greater supply of physicians to serve in rural and underserved areas in the State by expanding residency training opportunities is of great importance, and the establishment of a program to achieve this purpose is a desirable, necessary, and economical method of increasing the number of physicians to provide needed medical services to the people of this State.

Section 5. The Comprehensive Healthcare Workforce Planning Act is amended by adding Section 30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2325/30 new)

Sec. 30. Healthcare workforce planning. The Council shall coordinate the State's health workforce education and training to develop a health workforce that meets the State's health care needs. The Council shall work with graduate medical education and training programs, health professions, including, but not limited to, specialties for primary care and behavioral health, and consumer representatives to:

(1) develop graduate medical education and workforce training and development priorities for the State;

(2) discuss and make recommendations regarding the use of health care education and training funds appropriated by the General Assembly for programs administered under Section 9.44 of the Board of Higher Education Act;

(3) develop standards and guidelines for residency and health professions education and training programs funded under Section 9.44 of the Board of Higher Education Act;

(4) review outcomes data from funded programs, as provided to the Council by the Department, to reprioritize and reassess the graduate medical education and health professions education and training needs of communities;

(5) explore options for developing a broad graduate medical education and health professions education and training funding strategy;

(6) advocate for additional funds and additional sources of funds to stimulate expansion of graduate medical education and health professions education and training in the State;

(7) provide technical assistance and support for establishing new graduate medical education and health professions education and training programs in the State; and

(8) review and recommend health professions career pathways or ladders.

The Council shall give primary consideration to increasing workforce diversity and furthering improved access, quality, and equity of health care for underserved or underrepresented populations.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1028 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1028 new)

Sec. 5.1028. The Medical Residency Fund.

Section 15. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.45 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.45 new)

Sec. 9.45. Medical residencies; program.

(a) The Board shall establish a program to provide:

(1) funding for medical residency positions that are not funded by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or other established funding source;

(2) technical assistance for entities that wish to establish a residency program, including, but not limited to, entities that are not licensed hospitals or federally qualified health centers; and

(3) startup funding for entities that wish to establish a residency program.

(b) The Board shall establish an application process for an entity seeking funding. The application and contract criteria shall be based on health care workforce needs and priorities. When funding new medical residency positions, priority shall be given to programs that strive to:

(1) graduate individuals who practice in medically underserved areas in the State; and

(2) locate the positions' main training site in a medically underserved area.

(c) The State Healthcare Workforce Council shall provide information annually to the Board related to workforce shortages to assist in the development of the application and shall be responsible for reviewing applications and making recommendations to the Board regarding funding recipients.

(d) An entity receiving funding under the program shall provide any information requested by the Board that the Board determines is necessary to administer this Section.

(e) Funds shall be awarded to those institutions that best demonstrate the ability to provide quality education and training and to retain residents in specific areas of the State where there is a recognized unmet priority need for physicians.

(f) The Medical Residency Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Board shall deposit into the Fund moneys appropriated or received as gifts. All moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Board, subject to appropriation, to expand graduate medical education opportunities in the State and maximize the delivery of medical care and physician services to specific areas of the State where there is a recognized unmet priority need for medical care and physician services pursuant to this Section.