WHEREAS, Idaho currently ranks 40th in physicians per capita and has the 6th oldest physician population among the 50 states; and

         WHEREAS, Idaho does not train a sufficient number of physicians, especially in primary care, to meet the needs of its citizens; and

         WHEREAS, in addition to nursing, shortages in such fields as pharmacy, dentistry, allied health professions, primary care physicians and mental health professions are acute;

         WHEREAS, the State has a vested interest in finding workable and realistic solutions to the healthcare provider shortages; and

        WHEREAS, a sufficient supply of healthcare professionals in all disciplines is necessary to address the healthcare of Idaho citizens; and

       WHEREAS, to address the shortages the Governors Select Committee on Health Care recommended to the Governor the creation of the Idaho Health Professions Education Council; and

       NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this state do hereby order:
1. The creation of the Idaho Health Professions Education Council (Council).

2. Members of the Council shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

3. The chair of the Council shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

4. The chair of the Council shall be a person from one of the 4-year higher education institutions in Idaho.

5. The members of the Council shall include but are not limited to:

a. Representatives from the Health Industry;
b. Representatives from Health Organizations;
c. Representatives for Idaho Colleges/Universities;
d. Representatives from the Public at Large;

6. The Council’s responsibilities shall be:

a. Conduct health workforce analyses;
b. Assess Idaho’s capacity for training healthcare professionals;
c. Advise the Governor and legislators on healthcare workforce issues;
d. Develop healthcare workforce objectives for the State of Idaho and provide policy recommendations for achieving the objectives;
e. Recommend strategies to address healthcare provider shortages in rural locations;
f. Develop strategies to increase public/private partnerships to increase the healthcare providers for Idaho.

7. Committee members will serve without compensation; however, they shall receive reimbursement for the actual costs of attending Committee meetings.

8. The Council shall submit an annual report of its activities to the Governor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho in Boise on this 26^th day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-third and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred nineteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE