Florida plans to invest $70 Million to help influence medical student retention. Facing a decline in post-residency physician retention rates, Florida is gearing up to inject $70 million into a comprehensive initiative designed to keep medical students within the state. The "Live Healthy" program, specifically Senate Bill SBP 7016, has secured approval from the Health Policy Committee, signifying a crucial step towards fortifying Florida's healthcare workforce.

700 Medical Students

Central to this initiative is the Slots for Doctors Program, which designates $100,000 per slot to create an additional 700 opportunities for medical students to finish their training in Florida. Acknowledging the importance of monitoring the impact of these funds, the legislation mandates that institutions sponsoring residencies furnish annual reports outlining fund usage and position fulfillment status.

To augment oversight and strategic planning, the bill establishes a Graduate Medical Education Committee comprising medical school deans and representatives from medical boards and associations. This committee is entrusted with generating an annual report on the status of the resident workforce, providing a comprehensive understanding of the state's medical landscape.

Live Healthy Initiative

In tandem with the residency slots, the "Live Healthy" initiative earmarks $40 million for non-profit organizations, including the Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) Funding Program. TEACH aims to support residencies and clinical rotations at nonprofit health centers in medically underserved areas. Facilities qualifying for reimbursement under TEACH can receive up to $75,000 per fiscal year for training students and $100,000 for training medical school graduates.

Republican Sen. Colleen Burton, Chair of the Health Policy Committee, underscores the importance of retaining Florida-trained physicians. The initiative aligns with the recommendation of prioritizing Florida medical school graduates to reinforce the pipeline of physicians receiving graduate medical education in the state and subsequently choosing to practice medicine locally.

Historically Retained 75% Of Residents From 2008 To 2015