HB438 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Physician Initiative administered by the Alabama Medical Education Consortium, a 501(c)(3) corporation accountable to the Legislature.

• Provides scholarships to medical students enrolled in Alabama colleges of medicine who commit to practicing family medicine in rural primary care shortage areas for five years after completing residency.

• Phases in 25 scholarships beginning in academic year 2017-2018, increasing to 100 scholarships per year, with a maximum of 100 students participating in the initiative at any one time.

• Students must execute service contracts committing to complete family medicine residency in Alabama if possible and practice in state-designated rural areas; students failing to comply must repay all scholarship funds plus interest.

• Funds scholarships through legislative appropriation via the State Department of Public Health, with the consortium making annual reports and funding requests to the Legislature.