Chairman Mike Lewis, opened the meeting.  The minutes of the September 17th meeting were approved.

Staff Report

Alicia gave an overview of the Health Sciences Scholarship Program (HSSP).  Most physicians who received awards from 1995-98 have completed residency training.  Of this group, 17 began practice in rural WV; 14 paid back their awards in lieu of service; and 8 are pending.  Most of the physicians who paid back are practicing in urban areas of the state. Of the nurse practitioners and physician assistants who received awards, 35 began rural practice and 14 paid back their awards.

Alicia reported a decline in HSSP applications from medical students, possibly because of the malpractice crisis. Discussion ensued about this issue. Anecdotal reports  indicate that cities are losing specialists.  Jill Hutchinson reported that four ob/gyns were trying to get hired by federally funded clinics in order to be covered by the federal Tort Claims Act.

On motion (Raines/Nemitz), awards were approved for nine medical students.

 Marshall School of Medicine
Leslie M. Kidd
John Edward Mason
Autumn Whitlock-Morales

WVU School of Medicine
Angela Denise Oglesby
Amy Adele Parker
 
WV School of Osteopathic Medicine
Eddie Evan Anderson
Kimberly Dawn Ballard
Hilary Dawn Miller
Grant Stephen Parkins
 
On motion (Hutchinson/Foster), awards were approved for three nurse practitioner students and one physician assistant student.
 
 Marshall University School of Nursing
Nancy Katrina Casey
Kelly Shawn Veroski

 WVU School of Nursing
Crystal Gail McKinney

Mountain State University
Emily Francis Mounts
 
 
  HSSP Awards Subcommittee*

Jennifer Plymale reported the subcommittee’s findings and recommendations to the Vice Chancellor regarding awards to medical students. Medical student indebtedness continues to rise. Graduates are often willing and interested in rural practice, but overwhelming debt and higher salaries in urban areas are a disincentive. Fewer medical students are applying to the Health Sciences Scholarship Program, which provides a one-time $10,000 award for two years of service.

The subcommittee considered the following:

 • Financial Incentives Study, funded by the WV Rural Health Access Program.  Jodie Jackson reported that focus groups with residents and surveys of physicians were used to evaluate the effectiveness of state scholarship and loan forgiveness programs. The survey found that one-on-one contact and campus presentations were the most effective methods of informing students about incentives. The survey found that a $10,000 award was the least attractive of various options, even when offered for one year of service.
 
• Survey of State Financial Incentive Programs.  Alicia reported that the survey showed a wide range of incentives, service requirements, and penalties for default. Most states reported few problems with defaulters;  other states described strategies for dealing with this issue. Recommendations include: good selection process; well-informed committed medical students; close contact with participants; provide plenty of information; and loan repayment/payment after service. States reported problems if: (1) awards are made early in medical school and (2) if there are high penalties (triple payback).

• HSSP has adequate resources to support his increase, given the amount of paybacks.

The subcommittee recommended:

• The current HSSP award of $10,000 for 4th year medical students be increased to $20,000; and

• The medical schools take a more active role in recruiting these students.  The schools would recommend candidates to the Recruitment & Retention Committee.  This will improve communication and nurture relationships with scholarship recipients.

The Committee discussed the need for medical schools to get more involved in the selection process, inform students about incentive programs, and emphasize the concurrent service policy. An NHSC study found that the biggest problem was lack of contact with participants.

The Committee voted unanimously on motion (Hutchinson/Neel) to accept the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Dr. Lewis reported on the status of the malpractice legislation being considered in the special legislative session.

The meeting was adjourned.

*Members: Jennifer Plymale (chair), Jim Nemitz, Elaine Mason, Linda Atkins, Sandra Pope, and Alicia Tyler.