2007: Lawmakers boost rural primary care

2007: Lawmakers boost rural primary care

During its 70-year history, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has made contributions to the state, and the world, in medicine, science and education. Each month, we'll recognize at least one of these major accomplishments.

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Hoping to attract more practicing physicians to rural areas, Mississippi legislators created the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program in 2007. House Bill 1465 established medical school scholarships for students who agree to serve for at least four years in small Mississippi communities located in medically-underserved areas. That same year, the Association of American Medical Colleges data showed that the state ranked 50^th in the nation for active primary care physicians per 100,000 residents and that more than 20% percent of its physicians were 60 years or older. The state was also confronted with higher rates of adult obesity, diabetes and other conditions compared to those for other states. Since the program's beginning, the legislature has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships, in addition to contributions from private funding. The program's impact has strengthened over the years: Projections say it will have put 220 practicing physicians in formerly underserved communities by 2030, according to the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians.