32.1-122.20 - Recruitment and retention of health care providers.
§ 32.1-122.20. Recruitment and retention of health care providers.
The Commissioner shall direct the Commonwealth's activities and programs forrecruiting and retaining health care providers for underserved populations,underserved areas, and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) designatedthroughout the Commonwealth. The duties and responsibilities of theCommissioner shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Designating and updating as necessary the designation of underserved areasthat meet the criteria established by the Board pursuant to § 32.1-122.5;
2. Designating and updating as necessary those areas of the state which meetthe criteria of dental, primary care and mental health professional shortageareas as provided in 42 C.F.R. Part 5;
3. Administering the scholarship and loan repayment programs pursuant toArticle 6 (§ 32.1-122.5 et seq.) of this chapter as well as any otherprograms or activities authorized in the appropriation act for recruiting andretaining providers for the Commonwealth's underserved populations,underserved areas and HPSAs;
4. Recruiting health care providers, residents, and students in Virginia andother states to care for Virginia's underserved populations and practice inunderserved areas and HPSAs throughout the Commonwealth;
5. Publicizing the functions, programs, and activities of the Departmentavailable to assist providers in establishing a practice in underserved areasand HPSAs throughout the Commonwealth;
6. Coordinating the Department's health workforce activities with other stateagencies as well as public and private entities in Virginia involved inhealth workforce training, recruitment, and retention;
7. Identifying and recommending to the Governor and the General Assembly newprograms, activities, and strategies for increasing the number of providerspracticing in Virginia's underserved areas and HPSAs and serving Virginia'sunderserved populations; and
8. Submitting annual reports, as required in § 32.1-122.22, on theactivities, accomplishments, and future plans of the Department in recruitingand retaining providers for underserved populations, underserved areas andHPSAs throughout the Commonwealth.
(2000, cc. 175, 200.)