Senate adopts resolution directing three universities to study physician shortages and expand opportunities in underserved areas

The Kentucky Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 116 directing the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University to collaborate on actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore ways to expand health-care opportunities in medically underserved areas.

A floor sponsor said the resolution tasks the three public universities to coordinate with community partners, state agencies and professional associations and includes an appropriation of $250,000 to support the effort. The sponsor framed the resolution as a targeted, statutory direction to the public universities, noting that private institutions are not subject to the same direction. The sponsor said the appropriation was included to spur engagement and responses from stakeholders.

The clerk recorded a unanimous roll call adoption: 35 yays and no nays; the chair declared the joint resolution adopted. The resolution declared an emergency in order to expedite coordination, according to the clerk’s reading of the title.

Next steps: the resolution directs the named universities to coordinate the study and does not itself change statute beyond that directive and the appropriation authorized in the text as read on the floor.