To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve loan repayment programs of the National Institutes of Health.

To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve loan repayment programs of the National Institutes of Health. 1. Improvement of loan repayment programs of National Institutes of Health (a) In general Part G of title IV of the Public Health Service ( 42 U.S.C. 288 et seq. (1) by redesignating the second section 487F ( 42 U.S.C. 288–6 (2) by inserting after section 487G, as so redesignated, the following: 487H. Loan repayment program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program, based on workforce and scientific needs, of entering into contracts with qualified health professionals under which such health professionals agree to engage in research in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to pay, for each year of engaging in such research, not more than $50,000 of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such health professionals. (b) Adjustment for inflation Beginning with respect to fiscal year 2017, the Secretary may increase the maximum amount specified in subsection (a) by an amount that is determined by the Secretary, on an annual basis, to reflect inflation. (c) Limitation The Secretary may not enter into a contract with a health professional pursuant to subsection (a) unless such professional has a substantial amount of educational loans relative to income. (d) Applicability of certain provisions regarding obligated service Except to the extent inconsistent with this section, the provisions of sections 338B, 338C, and 338E shall apply to the program established under this section to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established under section 338B. (e) Availability of appropriations Amounts appropriated for a fiscal year for contracts under subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until the expiration of the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated. . (b) Update of other loan repayment programs (1) Loan repayment program for minority health disparities research Section 464z–5(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.285t–2(a)) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this subsection in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in subsection (a) of such section. (2) Loan repayment program for research with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome Section 487A(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288–1(a) (A) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this subsection in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in subsection (a) of such section. (3) Loan repayment program for research with respect to contraception and infertility Section 487B(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288–2(a) (A) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this subsection in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in such subsection (a) of such section. (4) Loan repayment program for research generally Section 487C(a)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288–3(a)(1) (A) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this paragraph in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in such subsection (a) of such section. (5) Loan repayment program regarding clinical researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds Section 487E(a)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288–5(a)(1) (A) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this paragraph in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in such subsection (a) of such section. (6) Loan repayment program regarding clinical researchers Section 487F(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 288–5a(a)), as added by section 205 of Public Law 106–505 (A) by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in this subsection in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in such subsection (a) of such section. (7) Pediatric research loan repayment program Section 487F of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 288–6 Public Law 106–310 (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking $35,000 $50,000 (B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new sentence: Subsection (b) of section 487H shall apply with respect to the maximum amount specified in subsection (a)(1) in the same manner as it applies to the maximum amount specified in such subsection (a) of such section. (C) by redesignating such section as section 487G.

Summary: This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a loan repayment program for health professionals engaging in research. The maximum awards of the loan repayment programs for minority health disparities research, AIDS research, research with respect to contraception and infertility, research as an employee of the National Institutes of Health, clinical researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds, clinical researchers, and pediatric research are increased and may be adjusted for inflation by HHS.