Section 146.645 - Grants to support the establishment or operation of graduate medical training consortia(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:(a) "Graduate medical training consortium" means an independent, nonprofit organization formed by 2 or more entities to operate as a sponsoring institution for accredited graduate medical training programs at rural hospitals in this state.(b) "Rural hospital" has the meaning given in s. 146.63 (1).(c) "Sponsoring institution" means an entity that oversees, supports, and administers one or more accredited graduate medical training programs.(2) DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES. (a) The department shall distribute grants from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bf) to support the operational expenses of graduate medical training consortia. Subject to par. (c) and sub. (3), the department shall distribute grants to all of the following:1. Graduate medical training consortia that apply to receive a grant under sub. (4) and that satisfy the criteria established by the department under par. (b) and the eligibility requirement under sub. (3).2. A graduate medical training consortium that received a grant under this paragraph in the immediately preceding fiscal year, unless the graduate medical training consortium no longer satisfies the criteria established by the department under par. (b) or the eligibility requirement under sub. (3), the consortium is not accredited as a sponsoring institution by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or any successor organization, or another accrediting body as determined by the department, or the consortium has notified the department that the consortium no longer wishes to receive the grant.(b) The department shall establish criteria for approving and distributing grants under par. (a). The department may not require a consortium under par. (a) 2. to apply for a grant under that subdivision.(c)1. The department shall distribute up to $375,000 in annual grants under par. (a) from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bf).2. If the department receives matching federal Medical Assistance funds, the department shall distribute those funds for grants under par. (a) in addition to any funds distributed under subd. 1.(d) In awarding grants under par. (a), the department shall give preference to graduate medical training consortia that are the sponsoring institutions for graduate medical training programs in rural hospitals that have limited or no direct access to graduate medical training funding from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services or have reached the maximum available amount of graduate medical training funding from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services.(3) ELIGIBILITY. A graduate medical training consortium may only receive a grant under this section if the graduate medical training consortium includes at least one partner rural hospital or health system.(4) GRANT APPLICATION. Except as provided in sub. (2) (a) 2., a graduate medical training consortium may apply, in the manner determined by the department, to receive a grant under sub. (2) (a). A graduate medical training consortium shall identify all of the partner rural hospitals and health systems in the consortium in its grant application.(5) GRANT NONRENEWAL. A graduate medical training consortium that receives a grant under sub. (2) (a) shall notify the department, in the manner determined by the department, if the consortium no longer satisfies the criteria established by the department under sub. (2) (b) or the eligibility requirement under sub. (3), the consortium is not accredited as a sponsoring institution by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or any successor organization, or another accrediting body as determined by the department, or the consortium no longer wishes to receive the grant.(6) ACCREDITATION. A graduate medical training consortium shall, within 12 months of receiving a grant under sub. (2) (a), obtain and maintain accreditation as a sponsoring institution by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or any successor organization, or another accrediting body as determined by the department.(7) EFFECT ON GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING EXPANSION GRANTS. The receipt of a grant under this section by a graduate medical training consortium does not affect the eligibility for a grant under s. 146.64 of any hospital that has an accredited graduate medical training program facilitated, organized, or implemented by the graduate medical training consortium.Added by Acts 2023 ch, 185,s 11, eff. 3/24/2024.