(a) Subject to appropriated state funds, the executive commissioner shall establish procedures and formulas for the allocation of federal medical assistance funds that are directed to be used to support graduate medical education in connection with the medical assistance program.
(b) The executive commissioner shall allocate the funds in the manner the executive commissioner determines most effectively and equitably achieves the purposes for which those federal funds are received, consistent with the needs of this state for graduate medical education and the training of resident physicians in accredited residency programs in appropriate fields and specialties, taking into account other money available to support graduate medical education. In determining the needs of this state for graduate medical education, the executive commissioner shall give primary emphasis to graduate medical education in primary care specialties and shall also recognize the growth in residency training slots since 1997 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and other health care shortage areas of this state.
(c) The executive commissioner shall consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before adopting or revising a formula under this section. At the request of the executive commissioner, the coordinating board shall provide the executive commissioner with any information the board possesses to assist the executive commissioner in administering this section.