BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2232
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 1, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Das Williams, Chair
AB 2232 (Gray) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014
SUBJECT : University of California: medical education.
SUMMARY : Would appropriate funding to the University of
California (UC) to support the UC Merced Programs in Medical
Education Program (PRIME) and a study of the creation of a
permanent medical school at UC Merced. Specifically, this bill :
1)Finds and declares that the federal Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act will result in millions of previously
uninsured Californians seeking health services, resulting in a
projected physician shortfall of 17,000 by 2015; the San
Joaquin Valley faces health care access 31% lower than the
rest of the state and many regions are designated Medically
Underserved Areas (MUAs); funding the UC Merced Program in
Medical Education (PRIME) is key to meeting the region's
needs.
2)Appropriates $1,855,000 from the General Fund to UC each
fiscal year, commencing with the 2015-16 fiscal year, for
allocation to the UC San Joaquin Valley PRIME to admit up to
12 students per year and operate the program with up to 48
participants from across the four-year curriculum.
3)Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to UC to support
a two-year planning effort geared toward the establishment of
a traditional medical school at UC Merced. UC would be
required to submit a report to the Legislature by March 1,
2016 regarding planning efforts and recommendations for
infrastructure, personnel, and funding necessary for creation.
FISCAL EFFECT : At least $2,855,000 from the General Fund in
direct appropriations to support the programs outlined in this
bill.
COMMENTS : Background . Currently, UC operates 18 health
professional schools and programs; six are medical schools
(Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and San
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Francisco). In 2012-13, total enrollment in UC medical schools
was approximately 3,000 medical students and more than 4,000
medical residents and fellows.
UC PRIME is a training program focused on meeting the needs of
California's underserved populations in both rural communities
and urban areas by combining specialized coursework, structured
clinical experiences, advanced independent study and mentoring.
UC Irvine launched the first UC PRIME program in 2004 focusing
on the growing needs of California's Latino communities. Three
other UC schools (Davis, San Diego and San Francisco) admitted
their first classes in fall 2007 in programs focused on rural
health and telemedicine (Davis), health equity (San Diego), and
the urban underserved (San Francisco). In 2008, UCLA launched
its PRIME program, training physicians to proactively address
the needs of diverse disadvantaged communities by delivering
culturally competent clinical care, providing leadership for
health delivery systems and conducting research on health
disparities.
UC Merced currently offers degrees in fields that satisfy
medical school preparatory requirements and is developing plans
intended to lead to a School of Medicine. In 2011, UC Merced
opened a PRIME program in partnership with the UC Davis School
of Medicine and UCSF focused the health needs of the San Joaquin
Valley.
Purpose of this bill . According to the author, "despite its
numerous benefits for the region PRIME lacks an ongoing source
of funding for its current enrollment as well as the financial
resources to expand capacity to meet the needs of the valley.
Additionally, state support is vital to the continued expansion
of the campus of UC Merced and to lay the foundation of a new UC
Medical School."
Evaluation of new programs . Prior to 2011, the California
Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) was charged with
reviewing and making recommendations regarding proposals for new
programs at California's public colleges and universities.
Specifically, CPEC's review was intended to determine whether
the costs of a program are justified by societal need and
student demand for that program. Since the de-funding of CPEC
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in 2011, no additional state program reviews have occurred. The
Legislature is now placed in the position of examining and
reviewing the academic, programmatic, and fiscal implications of
new programs.
UC Position . UC has not taken a position on this bill; however,
UC has indicated that based on the current status of UC Merced,
it is a higher priority to build the general campus rather than
develop a medical program. UC notes that accreditation by the
Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) is required for
all Doctor of Medicine programs and that the resources required
for accreditation standards are considerable. Based on the
experience with the UC Riverside medical school, UC does not
believe that LCME would accredit UC Merced for a medical program
without a significant financial contribution UC indicates that
this proposal lies outside of budget priorities established by
the Regents in November 2013.
Related legislation . SB 841 (Cannella), as introduced, was
identical to this bill but was amended by the Senate Education
Committee to remove the appropriation and accompanying language
in support of planning for a medical school.
Prior legislation . SB 21 (Roth), Chapter 203, Statutes of 2014,
requested the School of Medicine at UC Riverside develop a
program, consistent with its mission, in conjunction with the
health facilities of its medical residency programs, to identify
eligible medical residents and to assist those medical residents
to apply for physician retention programs, as specified.
The 2013 Budget Act approved trailer bill language that requires
UC to allocate $15 million for planning and startup costs
associated with academic programs to be offered by the School of
Medicine at UC Riverside, and trailer bill language that
requires regular reporting on a variety of metrics, including
funding, recruitment, hiring, and outcomes, as well as operating
and capital budgets detailed by fund source.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Medical Association
California Primary Care Association
California Psychiatric Association
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960