Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2274 | Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen (D-CA)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act of 2021
This bill assists qualified individuals in receiving the education and training needed to become a physician assistant.
Graduate students enrolled in physician assistant education programs are eligible for (1) Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans, and (2) loan forgiveness programs for those who serve in areas of national need upon graduation.
The bill also requires the Department of Education to

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education 
    opportunities for physician assistants, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Physician Assistant Higher Education 
Modernization Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE FEDERAL DIRECT SUBSIDIZED 
              STAFFORD LOANS TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND OTHER GRADUATE 
              HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 455(a)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(3)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) 
and inserting the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply 
                to--
                            ``(i) an individual enrolled in course work 
                        specified in paragraph (3)(B) or (4)(B) of 
                        484(b); or
                            ``(ii) a graduate student in a--
                                    ``(I) physician assistant education 
                                program (as defined in section 799B of 
                                the Public Health Service Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 295p)); or
                                    ``(II) any other health professions 
                                program, as determined by the 
                                Secretary.''.
    (b) Inapplicability of Title IV Negotiated Rulemaking and Master 
Calendar Exception.--Sections 482(c) and 492 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089(c), 1098a) shall not apply to the 
amendments made by this section, or to any regulations promulgated 
under those amendments.

SEC. 3. MAKING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES WHEN 
              SERVING AS PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS OR FACULTY MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 428K of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1078-11) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(19) Physician assistants.--The individual is a physician 
        assistant employed full-time--
                    ``(A) as a physician assistant in a clinical 
                setting providing primary care services; or
                    ``(B) as a member of the physician assistant 
                faculty at a physician assistant education program (as 
                defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).'';
            (2) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) Physician assistant.--The term `physician assistant' 
        means an individual who--
                    ``(A) graduated from a physician assistant 
                education program (as defined in section 799B of the 
                Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p));
                    ``(B) is certified as a physician assistant by the 
                National Commission on the Certification of Physician 
                Assistants or any successor organization; and
                    ``(C) either--
                            ``(i) holds a valid and unrestricted 
                        license to practice medicine as a physician 
                        assistant in the State in which the physician 
                        assistant practices in a clinical setting; or
                            ``(ii) is qualified for licensure in the 
                        State where the individual is employed as a 
                        full-time physician assistant faculty member of 
                        a physician assistant education program (as 
                        defined in section 799B of the Public Health 
                        Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''; and
            (3) in subsection (h), by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and 
        inserting ``fiscal year 2022''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to employment occurring on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. GRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS AT 
              HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND 
              PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Historically Black Colleges and Universities.--Section 723 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician 
        assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician 
        assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician 
                assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph 
                (13); and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (11) the 
                following:
            ``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant 
        education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public 
        Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
                    ``(A) creating or improving facilities for internet 
                or other distance education technologies, including 
                purchase or rental of telecommunications technology 
                equipment or services; and
                    ``(B) collaborating with other institutions of 
                higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree 
                offerings; and''.
    (b) Predominantly Black Institutions.--Section 724 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician 
        assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician 
        assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician 
                assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph 
                (13); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (11) the 
                following:
            ``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant 
        education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public 
        Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
                    ``(A) creating or improving facilities for internet 
                or other distance education technologies, including 
                purchase or rental of telecommunications technology 
                equipment or services; and
                    ``(B) collaborating with other institutions of 
                higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree 
                offerings; and''.
    (c) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsections (a) 
and (b) of section 725 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1136c) are each amended by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting 
``fiscal year 2022''.

SEC. 5. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
              HISPANIC AMERICANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 514 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1102c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Priority for Physician Assistant Education Programs.--The 
Secretary shall give preference to an application by an eligible 
institution for a grant under this part that demonstrates that the 
grant funds awarded under this part will be used to support physician 
assistant education programs (as defined in section 799B of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''.
    (b) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 
528(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1103g(a)(2)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and''; 
        and
            (2) by inserting ``fiscal year 2022 and'' after ``such sums 
        as may be necessary for''.

SEC. 6. SUPPORTING STUDENT MATRICULATION AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT 
              EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT RURAL SERVING INSTITUTIONS OF 
              HIGHER EDUCATION.

    Section 861 of part Q of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161q) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``three of the following four'' and 
                inserting ``four of the following five''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) To improve health workforce distribution in rural 
        areas by supporting health professions student matriculation or 
        the development of new health professions programs, including 
        physician assistant education programs (as defined in section 
        799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''; and
            (2) in subsection (g), by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and 
        inserting ``fiscal year 2022''.
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