74-3266. Osteopathic medical service scholarships; agreements; practice obligation; service or employment, part-time; definitions of state medical facility or institution, approved postgraduate residency training program, and medically underserved area. (a) An agreement entered into by the state board of regents and a Kansas resident who is an undergraduate student enrolled in or admitted to an accredited school of osteopathic medicine in a course of instruction leading to the degree of doctor of osteopathy for the awarding of an osteopathic medical service scholarship shall require that the person receiving the scholarship:

(1) Complete the required course of instruction and receive the degree of doctor of osteopathy;

(2) apply for and obtain a license to practice medicine and surgery in Kansas;

(3) except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), engage in the practice of medicine and surgery in Kansas on a full-time basis for a period of 12 months for each year a scholarship was received or on a part-time basis for a period equivalent to 12 months, as determined by the state board of regents, for each year a scholarship was received;

(4) (A) with regard to persons entering into agreements prior to the effective date of this act, commence such full-time or part-time practice of medicine and surgery within nine months after licensure or within nine months after completion of an approved postgraduate residency training program and licensure, whichever is later, and continue such practice in Kansas for a consecutive period of months equal to the total number of months required under the agreement;

(B) with regard to persons entering into agreements after the effective date of this act, commence such full-time or part-time practice of medicine and surgery within six months after licensure or within six months after completion of an approved postgraduate residency training program and licensure, whichever is later, and continue such practice in Kansas for a consecutive period of months equal to the total number of months required under the agreement;

(5) agree that the service commitment for each agreement entered into under this section is in addition to the service commitment contained in any other agreement which has been or may be entered into under this section for the purpose of obtaining scholarship aid;

(6) maintain records and make reports to the state board of regents to document satisfaction of the obligation under such agreement to engage in the full-time or part-time practice of medicine and surgery in Kansas and to continue such practice for a consecutive period of months equal to the total number of months required under the agreement; and

(7) repay amounts to the state board of regents as provided in K.S.A. 74-3267, and amendments thereto, upon failure to engage in the full-time or part-time practice of medicine and surgery in Kansas for the required period of time under any agreement entered into as provided in this section.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), each Kansas student who enters into an agreement as provided in this section shall serve the practice obligations incurred by such student under the agreement in a rural area or a medically underserved area.

(c) (1) A person awarded an osteopathic medical service scholarship may satisfy the obligation to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery under an agreement entered into pursuant to this section, even though such person is engaged in practice in an area not designated a rural area or a medically underserved area, through employment by the state of Kansas on a part-time basis, which employment has been approved by the state board of regents, for the practice of medicine and surgery at any state medical care facility or institution.

(2) For the purposes of this subsection, service or employment at a state medical care facility or institution on a part-time basis of at least the equivalent of 1/2 time shall satisfy the obligation to engage in the full-time practice of medicine and surgery in Kansas for a period of 12 months for each year a scholarship was received as provided in an agreement entered into under this section.

(d) For the purposes of the osteopathic medical service scholarship program (1) "state medical care facility or institution" has the meaning ascribed thereto in subsection (k) of K.S.A. 76-375, and amendments thereto; (2) "approved postgraduate residency training program" means a residency training program in general internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine or fellowship training in geriatric medicine; (3) "medically underserved area" means a practice location designated medically underserved by the state board of regents; and (4) "rural area" has the meaning ascribed to "service commitment area" by subsection (c) of K.S.A. 76-381, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 1982, ch. 378, § 2; L. 1988, ch. 362, § 3; L. 1993, ch. 184, § 2; L. 2001, ch. 151, § 2; L. 2004, ch. 146, § 6; L. 2009, ch. 40, § 1; July 1.