I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6979 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to designate certain medical facilities 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs as health professional shortage 
areas, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2020 
Mr. KIND (for himself and Mr. GALLAGHER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to designate certain 
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
as health professional shortage areas, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Access to 
Care Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Jun 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6979.IH
H6979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF MEDICAL FACILITIES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT 
OF 
VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
AS 
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. 
(a) PHSA.—Section 332(a)(1) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)) is amended in the sec-
ond sentence by inserting ‘‘and medical facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (including State homes, 
as defined in section 101(19) of title 38, United States 
Code)’’ after ‘‘(42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)),’’. 
(b) CONCURRENT BENEFITS.— 
(1) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—Section 338A(b) 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l(b)) 
is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) not be participating in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational 
Assistance Program under chapter 76 of title 38, 
United States Code.’’. 
(2) 
DEBT
REDUCTION
PROGRAM.—Section 
338B(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254l–1(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Jun 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6979.IH
H6979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) not be participating in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational 
Assistance Program under chapter 76 of title 38, 
United States Code.’’. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the National 
Health Service Corps Program under subpart II of part 
D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
254d et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
with respect to health professional shortage areas that are 
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(including State homes, as defined in section 101(19) of 
title 38, United States Code). 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date that is 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:40 Jun 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6979.IH
H6979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS