AN ACT appropriating funds to the department of health and human services, office of rural health, for the establishment of a public‑private partnership with duke university to improve general surgical care in rural areas of the state.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, the sum of eighteen million two hundred ninety‑five thousand dollars ($18,295,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year, to be allocated to Duke University for the establishment and operation of a six‑year, public‑private partnership to improve general surgical care in Robeson County, Scotland County, and other surrounding rural counties identified by the Office of Rural Health as a surgical workforce shortage area. Duke University shall use these funds to do at least all of the following in collaboration with the Office of Rural Health:

(1)        Attract medical students to surgical residency programs affiliated with Duke University.

(2)        Develop new surgical training paradigms.

(3)        Grow the general surgery workforce in Robeson County, Scotland County, and other surrounding rural counties identified by the Office of Rural Health as experiencing a shortage of general surgeons, by developing incentives to attract and retain general surgeons committed to practicing in these rural counties.

Funds allocated under this subsection shall not revert at the end of the 2022‑2023 fiscal year but shall remain available for nonrecurring expenditures until expended.

SECTION 1.(b) By January 15 and June 15 of each calendar year, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on the status and operation of the public‑private partnership authorized by this act. The report shall include at least all of the following:

(1)        A breakdown of all expenditures from the funds allocated for the public‑private partnership authorized by this act.

(2)        Any change in the number of medical students participating in surgical residency programs affiliated with Duke University.

(3)        Any change in the number of surgeons practicing in Robeson County, Scotland County, and other surrounding rural counties identified by the Office of Rural Health as a surgical workforce shortage area.

(4)        An analysis of how the public‑private partnership authorized by this act has impacted the surgical workforce in Robeson County, Scotland County, and other surrounding rural counties identified by the Office of Rural Health as a surgical workforce shortage area.

SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2022.