SECTION 540:1-3-3. Powers, duties, and responsibilities of Commission

  As defined in Section 697.5 of 70 O.S. 1981, the Commission, in order to perform its official function in establishing and administering programs [70:697.5] to meet the physician and health manpower needs in Oklahoma, shall have the following specific powers, duties, and responsibilities: [70:697.5]

(1)   To review all available data on physician manpower in Oklahoma in order to determine the current and projected distribution of physicians by geographic location and by type of practice. To accomplish this review, the Commission may obtain information from and work in conjunction with agencies which gather data and evaluate health manpower needs. [70:697.5(1)] The Commission shall fully utilize the resources of its Physician Manpower Databank.

(2)   To serve as an agent to advise hospitals, clinics, and communities on setting up and planning internship and residency programs which emphasize provision of additional primary medical care physicians to service the rural areas of Oklahoma with primary medical care specialties to be defined to include training in the area of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, emergency trauma, and family practice or general practice. [70:697.5(3)]

(3)   To administer and determine the specific level of funding and the priorities used for granting state support to approved hospitals and clinical situations, in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine-Tulsa, and the College of Osteopathic Medicine of Oklahoma State University for approved hospital physician training programs for interns and residents and to recommend to the Governor and the Oklahoma Legislature the total funds needed to carry out the Internship and Residency Programs. [70:697.5(8)]

(4)   To administer and determine the level of funding to be requested for the following programs of the Physician Manpower Training Commission:

(A)   the Oklahoma Community Physician Education Scholarship Fund, [70:625.11]

(B)   the Community Match Rural Scholarship Incentive Program, [70:625.13]

(C)   the program of physician and health manpower placement services, [70:697.5(12)] and

(D)   the Nursing Student Assistance Program. [70:697.17]

(5)   To negotiate and enter into agreements or contracts with local, state, or federal agencies or institutions or other instrumentalities as may be authorized by statute or as necessary for performance of duties.

(6)   To employ a director and any staff personnel required to administer the funding of all programs approved by the Physician Manpower Training Commission and to contract with other state agencies and institutions to conduct and to perform specified services, functions and aspects in administering state funds. [70:697.5(9)]

[Source: Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1767, eff 5-11-98]