I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5458 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to help build a stronger health 
care workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 
Mr. RUIZ (for himself and Mr. HINOJOSA) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to help build a 
stronger health care workforce. 
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 ‘‘Building a Health Care 
Workforce for the Future Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. 
Subpart III of part D of title III of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 338N. GRANTS TO STATES FOR SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAMS. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible States to enable such States to imple-
ment scholarship programs to ensure, with respect to the 
provision of health services, an adequate supply of physi-
cians, dentists, behavioral and mental health professionals, 
certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, 
physician assistants, and pharmacists or other health pro-
fession as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE STATES.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application containing such information as the 
Secretary determines necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.—To be eligible to par-
ticipate in a scholarship program carried out with a grant 
received under this section, an individual shall— 
‘‘(1) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, 
as a full-time student— 
‘‘(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 and approved by the 
Secretary, leading to a degree in medicine, den-
tistry, school of pharmacy, other health profes-
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sion designated by the Secretary, nursing col-
lege, or an appropriate degree from a graduate 
program of behavioral and mental health; 
‘‘(2) submit to the State, an application to par-
ticipate in the program; and 
‘‘(3) sign and submit to the State, at the time 
of the submission of the application under paragraph 
(2), a written contract that requires the individual 
to— 
‘‘(A) accept payments under the scholar-
ship; 
‘‘(B) maintain a minimum level of aca-
demic standing during the period of the schol-
arship, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(C) if applicable, complete an accredited 
residency training program; 
‘‘(D) become licensed in the applicant’s 
State of residence; and 
‘‘(E) serve as a provider for 1 year in— 
‘‘(i) a health professional shortage 
area (as defined by the National Health 
Service Corps under section 332); 
‘‘(ii) a medically underserved area (as 
defined for purposes of section 330); or 
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‘‘(iii) any other shortage area defined 
by the State and approved by the Sec-
retary; 
in the applicant’s State of residence for every 
year in which the applicant received a scholar-
ship. 
‘‘(d) DESIGNATION OF AREAS.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, a State shall adequately 
demonstrate to the Secretary that the State has des-
ignated appropriate health professions or specialty short-
age areas. 
‘‘(e) REQUIRED DISCLOSURES.—In disseminating 
application and contract forms to individuals desiring to 
participate in a scholarship program funded under this 
section, the State shall include with such forms a sum-
mary of the rights and liabilities of an individual whose 
application is approved (and whose contract is accepted), 
including a clear explanation of the damages to which the 
State is entitled in the case of the individual’s breach of 
the contract. 
‘‘(f) AWARDING OF CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State that enters into a 
contract with an individual under subsection (c)(3) 
shall, with respect to the program in which the indi-
vidual is enrolled, agree to pay— 
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‘‘(A) all tuition and costs associated with 
the program; 
‘‘(B) any other reasonable educational ex-
penses, including fees, books, and laboratory ex-
penses, related to the program; and 
‘‘(C) a cost-of-living stipend in an amount 
to be determined the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATION BY STATE.—In entering 
into contracts with individuals that meet the require-
ments of subsection (c), the State shall consider the 
extent of the applicant’s demonstrated interest in 
the provision of care services in a particular provider 
shortage area. 
‘‘(g) MATCHING FUNDS.—A State receiving a grant 
under this section shall, with respect to the costs of mak-
ing payments on behalf of individuals under the scholar-
ship program implemented by the State under the grant, 
make available (directly or through donations from public 
or private entities) non-Federal contributions in cash to-
ward such costs in an amount equal to not less than $1 
for each $1 of Federal funds provided under the grant. 
‘‘(h) DIRECT ADMINISTRATION BY STATE AGENCY.— 
The scholarship program of any State receiving a grant 
under this section shall be administered directly by a State 
agency. 
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‘‘(i) REPORT BY SECRETARY.—Not later than 4 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, and every 5 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report concerning— 
‘‘(1) the number of scholarships awarded under 
the State scholarship program; 
‘‘(2) the number of scholarship recipients, bro-
ken down by practice area, serving in the profession 
originally awarded a scholarship for 1 year after the 
completion of the service period required under sub-
section (c)(3)(E); 
‘‘(3) the number of scholarship recipients, bro-
ken down by provider type, practicing in an under-
served area 1 year after the completion of the serv-
ice period required under subsection (c)(3)(E); 
‘‘(4) data on any changes in health professional 
shortage areas or medically underserved areas within 
the State; 
‘‘(5) remaining gaps in such health professional 
shortage areas or medically underserved areas; 
‘‘(6) the number of additional full-time physi-
cians that would be required to eliminate such 
health professional shortage areas or medically un-
derserved areas in the State; 
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