HB 1556 - Mississippi Critical Physician Shortage Incentive Act of 2019

• Creates the "Mississippi Critical Physician Shortage Incentive Act of 2019" to attract and retain newly licensed physicians in critical physician shortage areas.

• Exempts from gross income all income derived from providing medical services in designated critical physician shortage areas for newly licensed physicians (those licensed less than one year or completing post-graduate residency/fellowship training less than one year).

• Defines "critical physician shortage area" as a rural or underserved area designated by the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Commission with no more than one physician per 2,500 residents, as certified annually by the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

• Allows the income exemption to be utilized for up to 10 consecutive years if the qualifying physician practices in such an area for that entire period, with designation remaining in effect regardless of subsequent changes in physician-to-resident ratios.

• Effective January 1, 2019.