‘‘(A) in an accredited (as determined by 
the Secretary) educational institution in a 
State; and 
‘‘(B) in a course of study, or program, of-
fered by such institution leading to a degree in 
medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, physi-
cian assistant, pharmacy, behavioral and mental 
health, public health, or nursing; 
‘‘(2) be eligible for, or hold, an appointment as 
a commissioned officer in the Regular or Reserve 
Corps of the Service or be eligible for selection for 
civilian service in the Corps; 
‘‘(3) submit an application to participate in the 
U.S. Public Health Sciences Track Scholarship and 
Grants Program; and 
‘‘(4) sign and submit to the Secretary, at the 
time of submittal of such application, a written con-
tract to accept payment of a scholarship and to 
serve (in accordance with this subpart) for the appli-
cable period of obligated service in an area in which 
the need for public health-related services may be 
demonstrated.’’. 
(2) NO TAX IMPLICATIONS.—For purposes of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any amount re-
ceived under the National Health Service Corps 
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Scholarship Program for Medical, Dental and Nurs-
ing Students in the United States Public Health 
Sciences Track in Affiliated Schools under section 
338A–1 of the Public Health Service Act, as added 
by paragraph (1), by a medical student, dental stu-
dent, or nursing student shall not be included in the 
gross income of such student. 
(b) GRANTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAIL-
ABLE SLOTS FOR NEWLY ADMITTED MEDICAL, DENTAL, 
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, PHARMACY, BEHAVIORAL
AND 
MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND NURSING STU-
DENTS AND TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. 
PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES TRACK SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAM.—Part C of title VII of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 749. GRANTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAIL-
ABLE SLOTS FOR NEWLY ADMITTED MED-
ICAL, DENTAL, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, PHAR-
MACY, BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, 
PUBLIC HEALTH, AND NURSING STUDENTS 
AND TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE 
U.S. 
PUBLIC 
HEALTH 
SCIENCES 
TRACK 
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may 
make grants to medical, dental, public health, and nursing 
schools and physician assistant, pharmacy, and behavioral 
and mental health programs for the following purposes: 
‘‘(1) To increase the capacity of the recipient 
medical, dental, public health, or nursing school or 
physician assistant, pharmacy, or behavioral and 
mental health program, to accept additional medical, 
dental, public health, nursing, physician assistant, 
pharmacy, or behavioral and mental health students 
each year. 
‘‘(2) To develop curriculum. 
‘‘(3) To acquire equipment. 
‘‘(4) To recruit, train, and retain faculty. 
‘‘(5) To provide assistance to students who have 
completed a course of study at the recipient medical, 
dental, public health, or nursing school or physician 
assistant, pharmacy, or behavioral and mental health 
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program during the period in which such students 
are completing a residency or internship program af-
filiated with the recipient institution. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—A medical, dental, public health, 
or nursing school or physician assistant, pharmacy, or be-
havioral and mental health program seeking a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF MEDICAL SCHOOL.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘medical school’ means a school of medicine 
or a school of osteopathic medicine.’’. 
SEC. 203. FEDERAL MEDICAL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM 
AND PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) FEDERAL
MEDICAL
FACILITY
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 292 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating part F as part G; and 
(2) by inserting after part E, the following: 
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‘‘PART F—START-UP EXPENSES LOAN AND GRANT 
PROGRAMS FOR FEDERAL MEDICAL FACILI-
TIES 
AND 
HOSPITALS 
STARTING 
HIGH 
NEEDS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN SHORT-
AGE AREAS 
‘‘SEC. 781. FEDERAL MEDICAL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible facilities to increase interdisciplinary, 
community-based health professions training in high-needs 
specialties for physicians, nurses, dentists, physician as-
sistants, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health profes-
sionals, public health professionals, and other health pro-
fessionals as determined appropriate by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Permanent National Health Work-
force Commission established under section 101(a) of the 
Health Access and Health Professions Supply Act of 
2009. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE FACILITIES; APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE FACILITY.—In 
this section, the term ‘eligible facility’— 
‘‘(A) means a facility which— 
‘‘(i) is located in a health professional 
shortage area (as defined in section 332); 
‘‘(ii) is located in a medically under-
served community (as defined in section 
799B), or with respect to a medically un-
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derserved population (as defined in section 
330(b)(3)); 
‘‘(iii) is a Federal medical facility; 
‘‘(iv) is an area health education cen-
ter, a health education and training center, 
or a participant in the Quentin N. Burdick 
program for rural interdisciplinary train-
ing, that meet the requirements established 
by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(v) is establishing new residency pro-
grams in a specialty which the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Permanent Na-
tional Health Workforce Commission es-
tablished under section 101(a) of the 
Health Access and Health Professions 
Supply Act of 2009, determines is in high- 
need; and 
‘‘(B) includes Medicare certified Federally 
Qualified Health Centers, community health 
centers, health care for the homeless centers, 
rural health centers, migrant health centers, In-
dian Health Service entities, urban Indian cen-
ters, health clinics and hospitals operated by 
the Indian Health Service, Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations, and urban Indian organi-
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zations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Health Care Improvement Act), and other Fed-
eral medical facilities). 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—An eligible facility desiring 
a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible facility shall use 
amounts received under a grant under subsection (a) to 
promote— 
‘‘(1) the training of health professionals in 
interdisciplinary, community-based settings that are 
affiliated with hospitals and other health care facili-
ties and teaching institutions; 
‘‘(2) community development programs that as-
sure a diverse health professions workforce through 
emphasis on individuals from rural and frontier 
areas and underrepresented minority groups; 
‘‘(3) the development of a reliable health profes-
sions pipeline that provides an emphasis on health- 
related careers in schools (such as schools partici-
pating in the Health Careers Opportunities Pro-
gram) and centers of excellence, and that encourage 
individuals in underrepresented minorities (including 
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Hispanic, African-American, American Indian, and 
Alaska Native individuals) to pursue health profes-
sions careers; 
‘‘(4) the reduction of health professional isola-
tion in rural, frontier, and urban underserved areas 
through the provision of continuing education, men-
toring, and precepting activities, field faculty devel-
opment, and the utilization of technology such as 
telehealth and electronic health records; 
‘‘(5) the establishment and operation of re-
gional or statewide health advice telephone lines to 
reduce after-hours call responsibilities for over-
worked health professionals who provide services in 
remote areas that have few health professionals tak-
ing such after-hours calls; 
‘‘(6) an increase in the number of professionals 
taking after-hours calls in hospitals and emergency 
departments in health professional shortage areas 
(as defined in section 332), in medically underserved 
communities (as defined in section 799B), or with 
respect to medically underserved populations (as de-
fined in section 330(b)(3)); 
‘‘(7) the establishment and operation of relief 
programs that provide health professionals prac-
ticing in health professional shortage areas (as de-
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fined in section 332) with patient and call coverage 
when such professionals are ill, are pursuing con-
tinuing education, or are taking a vacation; and 
‘‘(8) the exposure of health professions resi-
dents to systems of health care that represent the 
contemporary American healthcare delivery program 
(such as ‘P4’ Prepare the Personal Physician for 
Practice and the ‘Health Commons’ programs). 
‘‘(d) SUBGRANTS.—An eligible facility may use 
amounts received under a grant under this section to 
award subgrants to States and other entities determined 
appropriate by the Secretary to carry out the activities de-
scribed in subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) SET ASIDE.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall ensure that a total of $500,000 
is awarded annually for the activities of the National 
Rural Recruitment and Retention Network, or a similar 
entity. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITION
OF FEDERAL MEDICAL FACIL-
ITY.—In this section, the term ‘Federal medical facility’ 
means a facility for the delivery of health services, and 
includes— 
‘‘(1) a federally qualified health center (as de-
fined in section 330A), a public health center, an 
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outpatient medical facility, or a community mental 
health center; 
‘‘(2) a hospital, State mental hospital, facility 
for long-term care, or rehabilitation facility; 
‘‘(3) a migrant health center or an Indian 
Health Service facility; 
‘‘(4) a facility for the delivery of health services 
to inmates in a penal or correctional institution 
(under section 323) or a State correctional institu-
tion; 
‘‘(5) a Public Health Service medical facility 
(used in connection with the delivery of health serv-
ices under section 320, 321, 322, 324, 325, or 
326)); or 
‘‘(6) any other Federal medical facility. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$623,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $666,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2010, $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, 
$700,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, and $725,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2013.’’. 
(b) ASSESSMENTS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish program assessment 
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rating tools for each program funded through titles 
VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 292 and 296 et seq.). 
(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Health Resources and 
Services Administration and other appropriate public 
and private stakeholders, shall, through negotiated 
rulemaking, establish criteria for the conduct of the 
assessments under paragraph (2). 
(3) ANNUAL
ASSESSMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall annually enter into a contract with an inde-
pendent nongovernmental entity for the conduct of 
an assessment, using the tools established under 
paragraph (1) and the criteria established under 
paragraph (2), of not less than 20 percent, nor more 
than 25 percent, of the programs carried out under 
titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act, 
so that every program under such titles is assessed 
at least once during every 5-year period. 
SEC. 204. HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING LOAN PRO-
GRAM. 
Part F of title VII of the Public Health Service Act 
(as added by section 203) is amended by adding at the 
end the following 
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‘‘SEC. 782. ESTABLISHMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
program under which the Secretary shall award interest- 
free loans to— 
‘‘(1) eligible hospitals to enable such hospitals 
to establish training programs in high-need special-
ties; and 
‘‘(2) eligible non-hospital community-based enti-
ties to enable such entities to establish health profes-
sions training programs. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
loan under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(A) a hospital shall— 
‘‘(i) be located in a health professional 
shortage area (as such term is defined in 
section 332); 
‘‘(ii) comply with the requirements of 
paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(iii) submit to the Secretary an ap-
plication at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require; or 
‘‘(B) a non-hospital community-based enti-
ty shall— 
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‘‘(i) comply with the requirements of 
paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(ii) submit to the Secretary an appli-
cation at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a loan under subsection (a), a hospital or non-hos-
pital community-based entity shall— 
‘‘(A) on the date on which the entity sub-
mits the loan application, not operate a resi-
dency with respect to a high-needs specialty (as 
determined by the Secretary in consultation 
with the Permanent National Health Workforce 
Commission established under section 101(a) of 
the Health Access and Health Professions Sup-
ply Act of 2009) or provide a health professions 
training program, as the case may be; 
‘‘(B) have received appropriate preliminary 
accreditation from the relevant accrediting 
agency (American Council for Graduate Medical 
Education, American Osteopathic Association, 
or Dental, Physician Assistant, Pharmacy, Be-
havioral and Mental Health, Public Health, and 
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Nursing accrediting agencies), as determined by 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) execute a signed formal contract 
under which the hospital or entity agree to 
repay the loan. 
‘‘(c) USE OF LOAN FUNDS.—Amounts received under 
a loan under subsection (a) shall be used only for— 
‘‘(1) the salary and fringe benefit expenses of 
residents, students, trainees, and faculty, or other 
costs directly attributable to the residency, edu-
cational, or training program to be carried out under 
the loan, as specified by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(2) facility construction or renovation, includ-
ing equipment purchase. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding loans under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that are 
located in health professional shortage areas (as defined 
in section 332) or in medically underserved communities 
(as defined in section 799B), or that serve medically un-
derserved populations (as defined in section 330(b)(3)). 
‘‘(e) LOAN PROVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) LOAN CONTRACT.—The loan contract en-
tered into under subsection (b)(2) shall contain 
terms that provide for the repayment of the loan, in-
cluding the number and amount of installment pay-
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ments as described in such contract. Such repay-
ment shall begin on the date that is 24 months after 
the date on which the loan contract is executed and 
shall be fully repaid not later than 36 months after 
the date of the first payment. 
‘‘(2) INTEREST.—Loans under this section shall 
be repaid without interest. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATION.—The amount of a loan under this 
section with respect to each of the uses described in sub-
section (c)(1) or (c)(2) shall not exceed $2,000,000. 
‘‘(g) FAILURE TO REPAY.—A hospital or non-hos-
pital community-based entity that fails to comply with the 
terms of a contract entered into under subsection (b)(2) 
shall be liable to the United States for the amount which 
has been paid to such hospital or entity under the con-
tract. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 205. UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES 
TRACK. 
Title II of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
202 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘PART D—UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH 
SCIENCES TRACK 
‘‘SEC. 271. ESTABLISHMENT. 
‘‘(a) UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES 
TRACK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is hereby authorized 
to be established a United States Public Health 
Sciences Track (referred to in this part as the 
‘Track’), at sites to be selected by the Secretary, 
with authority to grant appropriate advanced de-
grees in a manner that uniquely emphasizes team- 
based service, public health, epidemiology, and emer-
gency preparedness and response. It shall be so or-
ganized as to graduate not less than— 
‘‘(A) 150 medical students annually; 
‘‘(B) 100 dental students annually; 
‘‘(C) 250 nursing students annually; 
‘‘(D) 100 public health students annually; 
‘‘(E) 100 behavioral and mental health 
professional students annually; 
‘‘(F) 100 physician assistant or nurse 
practitioner students annually; and 
‘‘(G) 50 pharmacy students annually. 
‘‘(2) LOCATIONS.—The Track shall be located 
at existing and accredited, affiliated health profes-
sions education training programs at academic 
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health centers located in regions of the United 
States determined appropriate by the Surgeon Gen-
eral, in consultation with the Permanent National 
Health Workforce Commission. 
‘‘(b) NUMBER OF GRADUATES.—Except as provided 
in subsection (a), the number of persons to be graduated 
from the Track shall be prescribed by the Secretary. In 
so prescribing the number of persons to be graduated from 
the Track, the Secretary shall institute actions necessary 
to ensure the maximum number of first-year enrollments 
in the Track consistent with the academic capacity of the 
affiliated sites and the needs of the United States for med-
ical, dental, and nursing personnel. 
‘‘(c) DEVELOPMENT.—The development of the Track 
may be by such phases as the Secretary may prescribe 
subject to the requirements of subsection (a). 
‘‘(d) INTEGRATED LONGITUDINAL PLAN.—The Sur-
geon General shall develop an integrated longitudinal plan 
for health professions continuing education throughout the 
continuum of health-related education, training, and prac-
tice. Training under such plan shall emphasize patient- 
centered, interdisciplinary, and care coordination skills. 
Experience with deployment of emergency response teams 
shall be included during the clinical experiences. 
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‘‘(e) FACULTY DEVELOPMENT.—The Surgeon Gen-
eral shall develop faculty development programs and cur-
ricula in decentralized venues of health care, to balance 
urban, tertiary, and inpatient venues. 
‘‘SEC. 272. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The business of the Track shall 
be conducted by the Surgeon General with funds appro-
priated for and provided by the Department of Health and 
Human Services. The Permanent National Health Work-
force Commission shall assist the Surgeon General in an 
advisory capacity. 
‘‘(b) FACULTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Surgeon General, after 
considering the recommendations of the Permanent 
National Health Workforce Commission, shall obtain 
the services of such professors, instructors, and ad-
ministrative and other employees as may be nec-
essary to operate the Track, but utilize when pos-
sible, existing affiliated health professions training 
institutions. Members of the faculty and staff shall 
be employed under salary schedules and granted re-
tirement and other related benefits prescribed by the 
Secretary so as to place the employees of the Track 
faculty on a comparable basis with the employees of 
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fully accredited schools of the health professions 
within the United States. 
‘‘(2) TITLES.—The Surgeon General may con-
fer academic titles, as appropriate, upon the mem-
bers of the faculty. 
‘‘(3) NONAPPLICATION
OF
PROVISIONS.—The 
limitations in section 5373 of title 5, United States 
Code, shall not apply to the authority of the Surgeon 
General under paragraph (1) to prescribe salary 
schedules and other related benefits. 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENTS.—The Surgeon General may ne-
gotiate agreements with agencies of the Federal Govern-
ment to utilize on a reimbursable basis appropriate exist-
ing Federal medical resources located in the United States 
(or locations selected in accordance with section 
271(a)(2)). Under such agreements the facilities con-
cerned will retain their identities and basic missions. The 
Surgeon General may negotiate affiliation agreements 
with accredited universities and health professions train-
ing institutions in the United States. Such agreements 
may include provisions for payments for educational serv-
ices provided students participating in Department of 
Health and Human Services educational programs. 
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‘‘(d) PROGRAMS.—The Surgeon General may estab-
lish the following educational programs for Track stu-
dents: 
‘‘(1) Postdoctoral, postgraduate, and techno-
logical institutes. 
‘‘(2) A graduate school of nursing. 
‘‘(3) Other schools or programs that the Sur-
geon General determines necessary in order to oper-
ate the Track in a cost-effective manner. 
‘‘(e) CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION.—The Sur-
geon General shall establish programs in continuing med-
ical education for members of the health professions to 
the end that high standards of health care may be main-
tained within the United States. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORITY OF THE SURGEON GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Surgeon General is au-
thorized— 
‘‘(A) to enter into contracts with, accept 
grants from, and make grants to any nonprofit 
entity for the purpose of carrying out coopera-
tive enterprises in medical, dental, physician as-
sistant, 
pharmacy, 
behavioral 
and 
mental 
health, public health, and nursing research, 
consultation, and education; 
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‘‘(B) to enter into contracts with entities 
under which the Surgeon General may furnish 
the services of such professional, technical, or 
clerical personnel as may be necessary to fulfill 
cooperative enterprises undertaken by the 
Track; 
‘‘(C) to accept, hold, administer, invest, 
and spend any gift, devise, or bequest of per-
sonal property made to the Track, including 
any gift, devise, or bequest for the support of 
an academic chair, teaching, research, or dem-
onstration project; 
‘‘(D) to enter into agreements with entities 
that may be utilized by the Track for the pur-
pose of enhancing the activities of the Track in 
education, research, and technological applica-
tions of knowledge; and 
‘‘(E) to accept the voluntary services of 
guest scholars and other persons. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Surgeon General may 
not enter into any contract with an entity if the con-
tract would obligate the Track to make outlays in 
advance of the enactment of budget authority for 
such outlays. 
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100 
‘‘(3) SCIENTISTS.—Scientists or other medical, 
dental, or nursing personnel utilized by the Track 
under an agreement described in paragraph (1) may 
be appointed to any position within the Track and 
may be permitted to perform such duties within the 
Track as the Surgeon General may approve. 
‘‘(4) VOLUNTEER
SERVICES.—A person who 
provides voluntary services under the authority of 
subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) shall be consid-
ered to be an employee of the Federal Government 
for the purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, relating to 
compensation for work-related injuries, and to be an 
employee of the Federal Government for the pur-
poses of chapter 171 of title 28, relating to tort 
claims. Such a person who is not otherwise employed 
by the Federal Government shall not be considered 
to be a Federal employee for any other purpose by 
reason of the provision of such services. 
‘‘SEC. 273. STUDENTS; SELECTION; OBLIGATION. 
‘‘(a) STUDENT SELECTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Medical, dental, physician 
assistant, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health, 
public health, and nursing students at the Track 
shall be selected under procedures prescribed by the 
Surgeon General. In so prescribing, the Surgeon 
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101 
General shall consider the recommendations of the 
Permanent National Health Workforce Commission. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In developing admissions pro-
cedures under paragraph (1), the Surgeon General 
shall ensure that such procedures give priority to ap-
plicant medical, dental, physician assistant, phar-
macy, behavioral and mental health, public health, 
and nursing students from rural communities and 
underrepresented minorities. 
‘‘(b) CONTRACT AND SERVICE OBLIGATION.— 
‘‘(1) CONTRACT.—Upon being admitted to the 
Track, a medical, dental, physician assistant, phar-
macy, behavioral and mental health, public health, 
or nursing student shall enter into a written con-
tract with the Surgeon General that shall contain— 
‘‘(A) an agreement under which— 
‘‘(i) subject to subparagraph (B), the 
Surgeon General agrees to provide the stu-
dent with tuition (or tuition remission) and 
a student stipend (described in paragraph 
(2)) in each school year for a period of 
years (not to exceed 4 school years) deter-
mined by the student, during which period 
the student is enrolled in the Track at an 
affiliated or other participating health pro-
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102 
fessions institution pursuant to an agree-
ment between the Track and such institu-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), the 
student agrees— 
‘‘(I) to accept the provision of 
such tuition and student stipend to 
the student; 
‘‘(II) to maintain enrollment at 
the Track until the student completes 
the course of study involved; 
‘‘(III) while enrolled in such 
course of study, to maintain an ac-
ceptable level of academic standing 
(as determined by the Surgeon Gen-
eral); 
‘‘(IV) if pursuing a degree from 
a school of medicine or osteopathic 
medicine, dental, public health, or 
nursing school or a physician assist-
ant, pharmacy, or behavioral and 
mental health professional program, 
to complete a residency or internship 
in a specialty that the Surgeon Gen-
eral determines is appropriate; and 
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103 
‘‘(V) to serve for a period of time 
(referred to in this part as the ‘period 
of obligated service’) within the Com-
missioned Corps of the Public Health 
Service equal to 2 years for each 
school year during which such indi-
vidual was enrolled at the College, re-
duced as provided for in paragraph 
(3); 
‘‘(B) a provision that any financial obliga-
tion of the United States arising out of a con-
tract entered into under this part and any obli-
gation of the student which is conditioned 
thereon, is contingent upon funds being appro-
priated to carry out this part; 
‘‘(C) a statement of the damages to which 
the United States is entitled for the student’s 
breach of the contract; and 
‘‘(D) such other statements of the rights 
and liabilities of the Secretary and of the indi-
vidual, not inconsistent with the provisions of 
this part. 
‘‘(2) TUITION AND STUDENT STIPEND.— 
‘‘(A) TUITION
REMISSION
RATES.—The 
Surgeon General, based on the recommenda-
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104 
tions of the Permanent National Health Work-
force Commission established under section 
101(a) of the Health Access and Health Profes-
sions Supply Act of 2009, shall establish Fed-
eral tuition remission rates to be used by the 
Track to provide reimbursement to affiliated 
and other participating health professions insti-
tutions for the cost of educational services pro-
vided by such institutions to Track students. 
The agreement entered into by such partici-
pating institutions under paragraph (1)(A)(i) 
shall contain an agreement to accept as pay-
ment in full the established remission rate 
under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(B) STIPEND.—The Surgeon General, 
based on the recommendations of the Perma-
nent National Health Workforce Commission, 
shall establish and update Federal stipend rates 
for payment to students under this part. 
‘‘(3) REDUCTIONS
IN
THE
PERIOD
OF
OBLI-
GATED
SERVICE.—The period of obligated service 
under paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(V) shall be reduced— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a student who elects to 
participate in a high-needs speciality residency 
(as determined by the Permanent National 
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105 
Health Workforce Commission), by 3 months 
for each year of such participation (not to ex-
ceed a total of 12 months); and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a student who, upon 
completion of their residency, elects to practice 
in a Federal medical facility (as defined in sec-
tion 781(e)) that is located in a health profes-
sional shortage area (as defined in section 332), 
by 3 months for year of full-time practice in 
such a facility (not to exceed a total of 12 
months). 
‘‘(c) SECOND 2 YEARS OF SERVICE.—During the 
third and fourth years in which a medical, dental, physi-
cian assistant, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health, 
public health, or nursing student is enrolled in the Track, 
training should be designed to prioritize clinical rotations 
in Federal medical facilities in health professional short-
age areas, and emphasize a balance of hospital and com-
munity-based experiences, and training within inter-
disciplinary teams. 
‘‘(d) DENTIST, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, PHARMACIST, 
BEHAVIORAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, 
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, AND NURSE TRAIN-
ING.—The Surgeon General shall establish provisions ap-
plicable with respect to dental, physician assistant, phar-
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106 
macy, behavioral and mental health, public health, and 
nursing students that are comparable to those for medical 
students under this section, including service obligations, 
tuition support, and stipend support. The Surgeon Gen-
eral shall give priority to health professions training insti-
tutions that train medical, dental, physician assistant, 
pharmacy, behavioral and mental health, public health, 
and nursing students for some significant period of time 
together, but at a minimum have a discrete and shared 
core curriculum. 
‘‘(e) ELITE FEDERAL DISASTER TEAMS.—The Sur-
geon General, in consultation with the Secretary, the Di-
rector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
and other appropriate military and Federal government 
agencies, shall develop criteria for the appointment of 
highly qualified Track faculty, medical, dental, physician 
assistant, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health, public 
health, and nursing students, and graduates to elite Fed-
eral disaster preparedness teams to train and to respond 
to public health emergencies, natural disasters, bioter-
rorism events, and other emergencies. 
‘‘(f) STUDENT DROPPED FROM TRACK IN AFFILIATE 
SCHOOL.—A medical, dental, physician assistant, phar-
macy, behavioral and mental health, public health, or 
nursing student who, under regulations prescribed by the 
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