I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1904
To provide for various programs relating to improving the health of rural
populations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 20, 1995
Mr. WILLIAMS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for various programs relating to improving the
health of rural populations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural America Health
Care Improvement Act’’.
TITLE I—PROVISIONS RELATING
TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
ACT
SEC. 101. ADMINISTRATOR OF PROGRAMS; FUNDING.
(a) ADMINISTRATOR.—For purposes of this title, the
term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and
Human Services.
(b) FUNDING.—The authorizations of appropriations
established in this title are in addition to any other author-
izations of appropriations that are available for the pur-
poses of this title.
SEC. 102. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.
(a) ADDITIONAL FUNDING; GENERAL CORPS PRO-
GRAM; 
ALLOCATION
FOR
CERTAIN
NONPHYSICIAN
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.—For the purpose of carrying
out subpart II of part D of title III of the Public Health
Service Act, and for the purpose of carrying out subsection
(b), there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000
for fiscal year 1996, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1997,
and $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
(b) ALLOCATION FOR PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN
NONPHYSICIAN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SCHOLAR-
SHIP AND LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the amounts appro-
priated under this section, the Secretary shall re-
serve such amounts as may be necessary to ensure
that, of the number of individuals who are partici-
pants in the Scholarship Program under section
338A of the Public Health Service Act, or in the
Loan Repayment Program under section 338B of
such Act, the total number who are being educated
as health professionals specified in paragraph (2), or
are serving as such professionals, respectively, is in-
creased to 20 percent.
(2) RELEVANT PROFESSIONS.—The health pro-
fessionals referred to in paragraph (1) are nurse
practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and reg-
istered nurses, and physician assistants.
SEC. 
103. 
DEVELOPMENT 
OF 
COMMUNITY-OPERATED
HEALTH PLANS IN RURAL AND FRONTIER
AREAS.
(a) COMMUNITY-OPERATED HEALTH PLANS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make
grants to public and nonprofit private entities for
the purpose of carrying out projects to develop
health plans to provide services exclusively in rural
and frontier areas.
(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH PLANS.—For
purposes of this section, the term ‘‘health plan’’
means a community-rated plan or an experience-
rated plan.
(b) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.—The Secretary may
make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant
involved meets the following conditions:
(1) In developing the proposal of the applicant
for a project under such subsection, the applicant
has consulted with the local governments of the geo-
graphic area to be served by the health plan devel-
oped through the project, with individuals who reside
in the area, and with a reasonable number and vari-
ety of health professionals who provide services in
the area.
(2) The applicant agrees that the principal legal
authority over the operation of the health plan will
be vested in individuals who reside in such geo-
graphic area.
(3) In the proposal the applicant specifies how
a full continuum of services will be provided.
(4) In the proposal the applicant specifies how
the proposed health plan will utilize existing health
care facilities in a manner that avoids unnecessary
duplication.
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—