Section 146.616 - Allied health professional education and training grants(1) In this section: (a) "Allied health professional" means any individual who is a health care provider other than a physician, dentist, pharmacist, chiropractor, or podiatrist and who provides diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, or direct patient care and support services to the patient.(b) "Clinic" has the meaning given in s. 146.903 (1) (b).(c) "Hospital" has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).(d) "Rural clinic" means a clinic that is located in a city, town, or village in this state that has a population of less than 20,000.(e) "Rural hospital" means a hospital that is located in a city, town, or village in this state that has a population of less than 20,000.(2) Beginning in fiscal year 2018-19, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (fi), subject to subs. (3) to (5), the department shall distribute grants to hospitals, health systems, and educational entities that form health care education and training consortia for allied health professionals. The department shall distribute the grants under this section to hospitals, health systems, and educational entities that apply, in the form and manner determined by the department, to receive a grant and that satisfy the requirements established by the department under sub. (4).(3)(a) The department may distribute up to $125,000 per fiscal year per consortium to be used for any of the following: 1. Curriculum and faculty development.2. Tuition reimbursement.3. Clinical site or simulation expenses.(b) A recipient awarded a grant under this section shall match through its own funding sources the amount of the grant distributed by the department for the purposes of operating an allied health professional training consortium.(4) The department shall determine the requirements for the formation of health care education and training consortia for allied health professionals.(5) In distributing grants under this section, the department shall give preference to rural hospitals, health systems with a rural hospital or rural clinic, and rural educational entities.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 19,s 416, eff. 7/7/2023.Added by Acts 2017 ch, 59,s 1657d, eff. 9/23/2017.