sr1200_As_introduced_LC_33_1485

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06 LC 33 1485

Senate Resolution 1200

By: Senators Thomas of the 54th, Unterman of the 45th and Goggans of the 7th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Comprehensive Medical Education Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, physicians play a critical role in ensuring that all Georgians receive quality health care; and

WHEREAS, the statés population is one of the fastest growing populations in the nation and has increased by almost 900,000 people since 2000; and

WHEREAS, these new citizens and all those who have called Georgia home for years will need access to physicians in future years; and

WHEREAS, the health care needs of the citizens will grow substantially in future years as the statés population ages; and

WHEREAS, the statés ratio of physicians to population ranks 37th in the nation as of 2004; and

WHEREAS, this ranking raises concerns that the state lacks the physician work force that its citizens need; and

WHEREAS, the state has a well established and diverse medical education system; and

WHEREAS, this medical education system has grown only in recent years to account for Georgiás increased population; and

WHEREAS, the expansions of this medical education system have occurred to a greater extent in increases in medical schools and medical school enrollment than in residency programs; and
WHEREAS, the poor balance of these expansions and the unknown impact of ongoing expansions across the medical education system raises concerns that Georgia does not and will not possess the medical education system it needs to meet the demand for physicians in the state.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Comprehensive Medical Education Study Committee to be composed of four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore shall designate a member of the Senate to serve as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall study the current physician capacity in the state; assess the growth trends of this work force to determine if Georgia will have the physicians and types of physicians it will need in the future; review the current productive capacity of the medical education system, giving special consideration to the mix of primary care and physician specialists and the potential imbalance between medical schools and residency programs; and look at cost-effective solutions to addressing any observed shortfalls in the productive capacity of the statés medical education system. At the conclusion of its work, the committee shall produce a report on the capacity of the medical education system and needed changes to be made to this system to ensure it can produce sufficient numbers of physicians to meet Georgiás needs and shall outline strategies to build any needed enhancements to capacity.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2006. The committee shall hold no more than five meetings and shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.