Includes several whereas clauses concerning Section 11J.2 of SL 2017-57, which directed the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (Committees) to each appoint a subcommittee to jointly examine the use of State funds to support medical education and medical residency programs, noting the Committees were not able to conduct a thorough study and develop a supportive plan prior to the March 15, 2018, reporting deadline.

Authorizes the Committees to each appoint a subcommittee to study medical education and medical residency programs. Provides flexibility to the subcommittees, allowing each to work independently and report to its respective oversight committee, or to consult each other and elect to meet jointly.

Sets out components the study may include, which are identical to those listed in the mandate from SL 2017-57, including (1) examining the short- and long-term benefits to the State for allocating State funds to medical education and medical residency programs in the State and (2) developing an evaluation protocol to be used in determining the particular programs to support with State funds and the amount of State funds to allocate to these programs. Permits the study to include input from stakeholders, other states, and national experts, as also provided in SL 2017-57.

Provides that the study may examine reports provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and UNC in accordance with Section 11J.2(c) of SL 2017-57 (requires detailed information on medical education and residency programs in the State, including the breakdown of positions available in these programs, program graduates practicing in the state, and funding and support for the programs) and this act, as set out below.

Requires DHHS to report to the Committees, as well as the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicare and Health Choice, on medical education and residency programs by August 1, 2019. Directs DHHS to collaborate with the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC, the NC Area Health Education Centers, the NC Institute of Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine, and the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Enumerates 10 components DHHS must include in the report, including: (1) detailed information about NC medical school student slots, residency slots, and intern slots; (2) total funding for the NC Area Health Education Centers and the NC medical schools, along with the specified analyses for each; (3) the total reimbursement paid to hospitals related to Graduate Medical Education (GME) through the Medicaid program, along with the specified reimbursement methodology explanation; (4) any recommendations regarding a body to compile and oversee the State’s medical education and residency programs data; and (5) an analysis of how other states have modified or developed funding to meet the needs in rural areas regarding recruitment and retention of health care providers.

Requires a subcommittee authorized and appointed pursuant to the act to develop a proposal for a statewide plan to support medical education programs and medical residency programs in the State in a way that maximizes the impact of financial and other State support and addresses short- and long-term health care needs of the State. Adds that a subcommittee can submit an interim report by November 1, 2018, and report to its respective oversight committee on or before March 1, 2020. Terminates a subcommittee authorized by the act after it reports to its respective oversight committee.