County may benefit from bill

• Physician recruiting bill could help local hospital, doctors’ offices.

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

With $400,000 set aside for the next two years, Wyoming health care officials are better equipped to attempt to reel in much-needed physicians.

Legislation passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature, and signed by the governor, distributes money to high-need hospitals and physician practices around Wyoming. The bill allows for a hefty incentive package to attract new physicians to the state.

Dan Perdue of the American Hospital Association predicted Carbon County would be in a good position to secure some of the state funds. Perdue said Wyoming Department of Health officials are expected to establish the process for distributing the funds.

“We’ll have to wait until the rules and regulations get issued before we’ll know if it affects us,” said Patsy Carter, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s chief executive officer.

Originally introduced with an allowance of $800,000 per year, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate. As a compromise, it was revised with half as much funding.

“It doesn’t go a long way, but if we can show that there’s a demonstrated need for this type of legislation, we may be able to go back into the next session and ask for more money,” Perdue said. “The legislature is under the gun to make sure they’re funding all the programs that are worthwhile. We’ll have to see what our track record is.”

The bill incorporates the two elements of recruiting physicians — initial effort and incentives. Up to 10 percent of the funds are allotted for grant advertisement. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for successful recruitment efforts.

Another $90,000 from the state’s general fund has been allocated to pay for a grant administrator for the program.

Physicians recruited under the bill must agree to work in the respective community for at least two years, or repay the state and pay interest. The incentive package offers up to $20,000 for relocation, up to $10,000 a year in malpractice insurance and a maximum signing bonus of $30,000. Additionally, recruited physicians can be fully reimbursed for outstanding educational loans up to $30,000 per year.