A. The legislature finds that the expansion of hospital physician residency programs may extend and expand limited health delivery resources into rural and other medically underserved areas of the state.

B. The department of health and the university of New Mexico school of medicine shall assist hospitals in the state to develop and expand physician residencies in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics in rural or other medically underserved areas. The department and the school of medicine shall provide information and technical assistance to enhance hospital physician residency programs in rural or other medically underserved areas.