Page 437 TITLE 25—INDIANS § 1616j

(i) provide a program that enhances the

transition and recruitment of students into

advanced baccalaureate or graduate programs which train health professionals, and

(ii) stipulate certifications necessary to

approve internship and field placement opportunities at service unit facilities of the

Service or at tribal health facilities,

(D) has a qualified staff which has the appropriate certifications, and

(E) is capable of obtaining State or regional

accreditation of the program described in subsection (a)(1) of this section.

(c) Agreements and technical assistance

The Secretary shall encourage community colleges described in subsection (b)(2) of this section to establish and maintain programs described in subsection (a)(1) of this section by—

(1) entering into agreements with such colleges for the provision of qualified personnel of

the Service to teach courses of study in such

programs, and

(2) providing technical assistance and support to such colleges.

(d) Advanced training

Any program receiving assistance under this

section that is conducted with respect to a

health profession shall also offer courses of

study which provide advanced training for any

health professional who—

(1) has already received a degree or diploma

in such health profession, and

(2) provides clinical services on an Indian

reservation, at a Service facility, or at a tribal

clinic.

Such courses of study may be offered in conjunction with the college or university with which

the community college has entered into the

agreement required under subsection (b)(2)(C) of

this section.

(e) Definitions

For purposes of this section—

(1) The term ‘‘community college’’ means—

(A) a tribally controlled community college, or

(B) a junior or community college.

(2) The term ‘‘tribally controlled community

college’’ has the meaning given to such term

by section 1801(4) of this title.

(3) The term ‘‘junior or community college’’

has the meaning given to such term by section

1058(e) of title 20.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title I, §115, as added Pub. L.

100–713, title I, §109, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4797;

amended Pub. L. 102–573, title I, §117(b)(7), Oct.

29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4544.)

AMENDMENTS

1992—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–573 struck out subsec. (f)

which authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1990 to

1992.

§ 1616i. Additional incentives for health professionals

(a) Incentive special pay

The Secretary may provide the incentive special pay authorized under section 302(b) of title

37 to civilian medical officers of the Indian

Health Service who are assigned to, and serving

in, positions included in the list established

under subsection (b)(1) of this section for which

recruitment or retention of personnel is difficult.

(b) List of positions; bonus pay

(1) The Secretary shall establish and update

on an annual basis a list of positions of health

care professionals employed by, or assigned to,

the Service for which recruitment or retention

is difficult.

(2)(A) The Secretary may pay a bonus to any

commissioned officer or civil service employee,

other than a commissioned medical officer, dental officer, optometrist, and veterinarian, who is

employed in or assigned to, and serving in, a position in the Service included in the list established by the Secretary under paragraph (1).

(B) The total amount of bonus payments made

by the Secretary under this paragraph to any

employee during any 1-year period shall not exceed $2,000.

(c) Work schedules

The Secretary may establish programs to

allow the use of flexible work schedules, and

compressed work schedules, in accordance with

the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 61 of

title 5, for health professionals employed by, or

assigned to, the Service.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title I, §116, as added Pub. L.

100–713, title I, §109, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4798;

amended Pub. L. 102–573, title I, §117(b)(8), title

IX, §901(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4544, 4590.)

AMENDMENTS

1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–573, §901(1), struck out

subsec. (d) which required a report to Congress by the

Secretary no later than 6 months after Nov. 23, 1988, relating to overtime pay for individuals employed by the

Service.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–573, §117(b)(8), struck out subsec. (e) which authorized appropriations for fiscal years

1990 to 1992.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in sections 1616j, 1621h of

this title.

§ 1616j. Retention bonus

(a) Eligibility

The Secretary may pay a retention bonus to

any physician or nurse employed by, or assigned

to, and serving in, the Service either as a civilian employee or as a commissioned officer in the

Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health

Service who—

(1) is assigned to, and serving in, a position

included in the list established under section

1616i(b)(1) of this title for which recruitment

or retention of personnel is difficult,

(2) the Secretary determines is needed by

the Service,

(3) has—

(A) completed 3 years of employment with

the Service, or

(B) completed any service obligations incurred as a requirement of—

(i) any Federal scholarship program, or

(ii) any Federal education loan repayment program, and