‘‘(B) HIGH POVERTY AREA DEFINED.—For 
purposes of subparagraph (A), the term ‘high 
poverty area’ means a catchment area which is 
established in a manner that is consistent with 
the factors in subsection (k)(3)(J), and the pov-
erty rate of which is greater than the national 
average poverty rate as determined by the Bu-
reau of the Census.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
paragraph (1) shall apply to grants made on or after 
January 1, 2009. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS. 
(a) FUNDING.— 
(1) REAUTHORIZATION
OF
NATIONAL
HEALTH 
SERVICE
CORPS
PROGRAM.—Section 338(a) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254k(a)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2002 through 2006’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2008 through 2012’’. 
(2) SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN REPAYMENT PRO-
GRAMS.—Subsection (a) of section 338H of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254q) is amended by striking ‘‘appro-
priated $146,250,000’’ and all that follows through 
the period and inserting the following: ‘‘appro-
priated— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2008, $131,500,000;
‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2009, $143,335,000; 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2010, $156,235,150; 
‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2011, $170,296,310; and 
‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2012, $185,622,980.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF 6-YEAR DEMONSTRATION RE-
QUIREMENT.—Section 332(a)(1) of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘Not 
earlier than 6 years’’ and all that follows through ‘‘purposes 
of this section.’’. 
(c) ASSIGNMENT
TO
SHORTAGE
AREA.—Section 
333(a)(1)(D)(ii) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254f(a)(1)(D)(ii)) is amended— 
(1) in subclause (IV), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in subclause (V), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(VI) 
the 
entity 
demonstrates 
willingness to support or facilitate 
mentorship, professional development, 
and training opportunities for Corps 
members.’’. 
(d) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.— 
Subsection (d) of section 336 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 254h–1) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assist 
Corps members in establishing and maintaining pro-
fessional relationships and development opportunities, 
including by— 
‘‘(A) establishing appropriate professional 
relationships between the Corps member involved 
and the health professions community of the geo-
graphic area with respect to which the member 
is assigned; 
‘‘(B) establishing professional development, 
training, and mentorship linkages between the 
Corps member involved and the larger health 
professions community, including through dis-
tance learning, direct mentorship, and develop-
ment and implementation of training modules 
designed to meet the educational needs of offsite 
Corps members; 
‘‘(C) 
establishing 
professional 
networks 
among Corps members; or 
‘‘(D) engaging in other professional develop-
ment, mentorship, and training activities for 
Corps members, at the discretion of the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) ASSISTANCE
IN
ESTABLISHING
PROFES-
SIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.—In providing such assist-
ance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall focus 
on establishing relationships with hospitals, with aca-
demic medical centers and health professions schools, 
with area health education centers under section 751, 
with health education and training centers under sec-
tion 752, and with border health education and train-
ing centers under such section 752. Such assistance 
shall include assistance in obtaining faculty appoint-
ments at health professions schools. 
‘‘(3) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Such efforts 
under this subsection shall supplement, not supplant, 
non-government efforts by professional health provider 
societies to establish and maintain professional rela-
tionships and development opportunities.’’. 
(e) ELIGIBILITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND 
TERRITORIES FOR THE STATE LOAN REPAYMENT PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 338I(h) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q–1(h)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘several States’’ and inserting ‘‘50 States, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puer-
to Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’’.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sec-
tion 338I(i)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254q–1(i)(1)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2002’’ and all that follows 
through the period and inserting ‘‘2008, and such 
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2009 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL HEALTH CARE PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 330A(j) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254c(j)) is amended by striking ‘‘$40,000,000’’ and 
all that follows through the period and inserting 
‘‘$45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION OF PRIMARY DENTAL HEALTH 
WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. 
Section 340G(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 256g(f)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$50,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$25,000,000’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2002’’ and inserting ‘‘2008’’. 
SEC. 6. EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATION OF PRI-
MARY CARE PROVIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle B of title XXVIII of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–10 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 2815. EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATION OF PRI-
MARY CARE PROVIDERS. 
‘‘The Secretary, acting through Administrator of the 
Health Resources and Services Administration, and in co-
ordination with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness 
and Response, shall 
‘‘(1) provide guidance and technical assistance to 
health centers funded under section 330 and to State 
and local health departments and emergency man-
agers to integrate health centers into State and local 
emergency response plans and to better meet the pri-
mary care needs of populations served by health cen-
ters during public health emergencies; and 
‘‘(2) encourage employees at health centers fund-
ed under section 330 to participate in emergency 
medical response programs including the National 
Disaster Medical System authorized in section 2812, 
the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps authorized in 
section 2813, and the Emergency System for Advance 
Registration of Health Professions Volunteers author-
ized in section 319I.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the Sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to 
the extent permitted by law, utilize the existing authority 
provided under the Federal Tort Claims Act for health cen-
ters funded under section 330 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) in order to establish expedited proce-
dures under which such health centers and their health care 
professionals that have been deemed eligible for Federal Tort 
Claims Act coverage are able to respond promptly in a co-
ordinated manner and on a temporary basis to public 
health emergencies outside their traditional service area 
and sites, and across State lines, as necessary and appro-
priate. 
SEC. 7. REVISION OF THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE RECOGNI-
TION OF CERTAIN DESIGNATIONS IN CERTI-
FYING RURAL HEALTH CLINICS UNDER THE 
MEDICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The second sentence of section 
1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(aa)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘3-year period’’ and 
inserting ‘‘4-year period’’ in the matter in clause (i) pre-
ceding subclause (I). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Attest: 
Secretary.