(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)    “Eligible institution” means an institution of postsecondary education:

(i)    Approved to operate by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; and

(ii)    That awards nursing degrees or diplomas.

(3)    “Eligible organization” means an institution, including a licensed hospital, nursing home, adult day care center, public health agency, home health agency, or other organization authorized by the Secretary of Health.

(4)    “Medical education center” means an institution:

(i)    Whose objectives include the education of medical and allied health personnel; and

(ii)    That has residency programs or full departments in at least three primary care areas.

(5)    “Nurse practitioner” means a nurse practitioner as defined by the rules and regulations of the State Board of Nursing.

(6)    “Nursing shortage area” means a recognized area of nursing service or specialization determined by the Secretary of Health to be an area where there exists a shortage of qualified nurses in eligible organizations.

(7)    “Nursing student” means a student enrolled in a postsecondary nursing education degree or diploma program at an eligible institution.

(8)    “Physician assistant” means an individual to whom duties are delegated by a licensed physician under the rules and regulations of the State Board of Physicians.

(9)    “Primary care” means family practice, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics.

(b)    (1)    There is a Maryland Physician Assistant–Nurse Practitioner Training Program that provides financial support to institutions with training programs for physician assistants and nurse practitioners in primary care in this State administered by the Office. An institution may participate if its program:

(i)    Is accredited by the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, or the National League of Nursing;

(ii)    Produces graduates eligible to take:

1.    The primary care physician assistant certifying examination of the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants; or

2.    The primary care in adult and family nursing practice certifying examination or any other examination required by the State Board of Nursing;

(iii)    Is part of, or has a formal arrangement with, a medical education center;

(iv)    Focuses on developing primary care skills and includes substantial clinical experience in primary care; and

(v)    Is not a specialty program in a discipline other than primary care.

(2)    The Physician Assistant–Nurse Practitioner Training Program consists of grants to an eligible medical education center for each individual who completes the program in physician assistant or nurse practitioner training in the amount of:

(i)    $3,000 for each physician assistant; and

(ii)    $1,500 for each nurse practitioner.

(c)    If the total amount of the grants to be made under this section for physician assistants–nurse practitioners is more than $72,000 annually, then the amount of a medical education center’s grant for that period shall be equal to the product of:

(1)    The amount required to pay grants for that center; times

(2)    The ratio of the total amount appropriated to the total amount required to pay grants under this section to all centers.

(d)    A grant may not be awarded to a medical education center that has discontinued its program in physician assistant or nurse practitioner training.