Sec. 2612.

(1) The department may establish with Michigan state university and other parties determined appropriate by the department a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the nonprofit corporation act, Act No. 162 of the Public Acts of 1982, being sections 450.2101 to 450.3192 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The purpose of the corporation shall be to establish and operate a center for rural health. In fulfilling its purpose, the corporation shall do all of the following:

(a) Develop a coordinated rural health program that addresses critical questions and problems related to rural health and provides mechanisms for influencing health care policy.

(b) Perform and coordinate research regarding rural health issues.

(c) Periodically review state and federal laws and judicial decisions pertaining to health care policy and analyze the impact on the delivery of rural health care.

(d) Provide technical assistance and act as a resource for the rural health community in this state.

(e) Suggest changes in medical education curriculum that would be beneficial to rural health.

(f) Assist rural communities with all of the following:

(i) Applications for grants.

(ii) The recruitment and retention of health professionals.

(iii) Needs assessments and planning activities for rural health facilities.

(g) Serve as an advocate for rural health concerns.

(h) Conduct periodic seminars on rural health issues.

(i) Establish and implement a visiting professor program.

(j) Conduct consumer oriented rural health education programs.

(k) Designate a certificate of need ombudsman to provide technical assistance and consultation to rural health care providers and rural communities regarding certificate of need proposals and applications under part 222. The ombudsman shall also act as an advocate for rural health concerns in the development of certificate of need review standards under part 222.

(2) The incorporators of the corporation shall select a board of directors consisting of a representative from each of the following organizations:

(a) The Michigan state medical society or its successor. The representative appointed under this subdivision shall be a physician practicing in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(b) The Michigan osteopathic physicians' society or its successor. The representative appointed under this subdivision shall be a physician practicing in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(c) The Michigan nurses association or its successor. The representative appointed under this subdivision shall be a nurse practicing in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(d) The Michigan hospital association or its successor. The representative selected under this subdivision shall be from a hospital in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(e) The Michigan primary care association or its successor. The representative appointed under this subdivision shall be a health professional practicing in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(f) The Michigan association for local public health or its successor. The representative appointed from a county health department for a county with a population of not more than 100,000 or from a district health department with at least 1 member county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(g) The office of the governor.

(h) The department of public health.

(i) The department of commerce.

(j) The Michigan senate. The individual selected under this subdivision shall be from a district located at least in part in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(k) The Michigan house of representatives. The individual selected under this subdivision shall be from a district located at least in part in a county with a population of not more than 100,000.

(3) The board of directors of the corporation shall appoint an internal management committee for the center for rural health. The management committee shall consist of representatives from each of the following:

(a) The college of human medicine of Michigan state university.

(b) The college of osteopathic medicine of Michigan state university.

(c) The college of nursing of Michigan state university.

(d) The college of veterinary medicine of Michigan state university.

(e) The cooperative extension service of Michigan state university.

(f) The department of public health.

History: Add. 1990, Act 138, Imd. Eff. June 26, 1990 Compiler's Notes: For transfer of powers and duties of the center for rural health to the director of the department of community health and abolishment of the center, see E.R.O. No. 1997-4, compiled at MCL 333.26324 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.Popular Name: Act 368