master’s, and doctoral degree programs for allied 
health professions faculty. 
‘‘(b) PRACTICE PRIORITY AREAS.—The Secretary 
may award grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligi-
ble entities for— 
‘‘(1) establishing or expanding allied health pro-
fessions practice arrangements in noninstitutional 
settings to demonstrate methods to improve access 
to primary health care in medically underserved 
communities; 
‘‘(2) providing care for underserved populations 
and other high-risk groups and individuals with 
chronic conditions; 
‘‘(3) providing managed care, quality improve-
ment, and other skills needed to practice in existing 
and emerging organized health care systems; or 
‘‘(4) developing cultural competencies among al-
lied health professionals. 
‘‘(c) RETENTION PRIORITY AREAS.—The Secretary 
may award grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligi-
ble entities to enhance the allied health professions work-
force by initiating and maintaining allied health profession 
retention programs— 
‘‘(1) to promote career advancement for allied 
health professions personnel in a variety of training
settings, including cross training or specialty train-
ing among diverse population groups; or 
‘‘(2) to assist individuals in obtaining education 
and training required to enter the allied health pro-
fessions and advance within such professions, such 
as by providing career counseling and mentoring. 
‘‘(d) OTHER PRIORITY AREAS.—The Secretary may 
award grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligible en-
tities— 
‘‘(1) to study and advance the measurement of 
health outcomes relevant to the allied health profes-
sions; or 
‘‘(2) to address other issues that are of high 
priority to allied health professional education, prac-
tice, and retention, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress before the end of each fiscal year a report on 
the grants awarded and the contracts entered into under 
this section. Each such report shall identify the overall 
number of such grants and contracts and provide an ex-
planation of why each such grant or contract will meet 
the priority need of the workforce. 
‘‘(f) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible entity’ includes a school of allied
health, a health care facility, or a partnership of such a 
school and a facility. 
‘‘SEC. 780D. COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may 
award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement, 
in coordination with programs under section 753, pro-
grams and initiatives to train and educate allied health 
professionals in providing geriatric care for the elderly. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under subsection (a) shall use funds under such 
grant to— 
‘‘(1) provide training to allied health profes-
sionals who will provide geriatric care for the elderly; 
‘‘(2) disseminate curricula relating to the treat-
ment of the health problems of elderly individuals; 
‘‘(3) train allied health professions faculty 
members in geriatrics; or 
‘‘(4) provide continuing education to allied 
health professionals who provide geriatric care. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity desiring a 
grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to 
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require.