July 24, 2015 3:54 PM

Coordinating Board rolls out beginning of medical funding

The boost from the state gives about 730 residents currently in the pipeline the chance to experience rural, public and family practice.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board began rolling out money for residency programs this week, although not all the new dollars the legislature agreed to spend to expand those much needed slots.

The state put $16.7 million into the Family Practice Residency Program this biennium. That bump from the state gives about 730 residents currently in the pipeline the chance to experience rural, public and family practice. That’s especially critical to family practice, which sees no federal subsidy from Medicare because reimbursements are based on the number of days physicians spend in hospitals.

“That program provides support those individuals who are interested, to get them interested in and exposed to family practice and primary care,” assistant commissioner Rex Peebles told the coordinating board, noting doctors tend to set up practice where they completed their residencies. “It’s a great way to make sure Texas has doctors going forward.”

By Kimberly Reeves