SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 173

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2012

 

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 173.

      This bill seeks to address the impending physician shortage in New Jersey by directing the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to convene a strategic planning summit comprised of relevant State agencies and boards and key physician-supply stakeholders, including representatives of medical schools and teaching hospitals in the State.

      The purpose of the planning summit is to:

      (1) analyze the State’s physician workforce supply, by county and specialty, using on the most recent data available, including licensure data from the State Board of Medical Examiners;

      (2) discuss the redistribution or expansion, or both, of residency slots in the State to address physician shortages in the State; and

      (3) investigate ways to include more community hospitals in resident rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatric medicine.

      The bill also requires that the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services provide a written report with the findings and recommendations of the planning summit to the Governor and Legislature within six months after the bill’s effective date.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2012-2013 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.