Title: Veterans Affairs Physician Recruitment Act of 2017
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Affairs Physician Recruitment Act of 2017
This bill enhances the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to recruit and retain medical personnel through scholarships and student loan repayment.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4132 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4132

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
    the Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 25, 2017

Mr. Rutherford (for himself, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Coffman, and Mr. Dunn) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
    the Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Veterans Affairs Physician 
Recruitment Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS UNDER 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 
              SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Scholarships for Physicians and Dentists.--Section 7612(b) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
    ``(6)(A) Of the scholarships awarded under this subchapter, the 
Secretary shall ensure that not less than 50 scholarships are awarded 
each year to individuals who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled 
(as described in section 7602 of this title) in a program of education 
or training leading to employment as a physician or dentist until such 
date as the Secretary determines that the staffing shortage of 
physicians and dentists in the Department is less than 500.
    ``(B) After such date, the Secretary shall ensure that of the 
scholarships awarded under this subchapter, a number of scholarships is 
awarded each year to individuals referred to in subparagraph (A) in an 
amount equal to not less than ten percent of the staffing shortage of 
physicians and dentists in the Department, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    ``(C) Notwithstanding subsection (c)(1), the agreement between the 
Secretary and a participant in the Scholarship Program who receives a 
scholarship pursuant to this paragraph shall provide the following:
            ``(i) The Secretary's agreement to provide the participant 
        with a scholarship under this subchapter for a specified number 
        (from two to four) of school years during which the participant 
        is pursuing a course of education or training leading to 
        employment as a physician or dentist.
            ``(ii) The participant's agreement to serve as a full-time 
        employee in the Veterans Health Administration for a period of 
        time (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the `period 
        of obligated service') of 18 months for each school year or 
        part thereof for which the participant was provided a 
        scholarship under the Scholarship Program.
    ``(D) In providing scholarships pursuant to this paragraph, the 
Secretary may provide a preference for applicants who are veterans.
    ``(E) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall provide to 
appropriate educational institutions informational material about the 
availability of scholarships under this paragraph.''.
    (b) Breach of Agreement.--Section 7617 of such title is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
        (5) and (6), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph (4):
            ``(4) In the case of a participant who is enrolled in a 
        program or education or training leading to employment as a 
        physician, the participant fails to successfully complete post-
        graduate training leading to eligibility for board 
        certification in a specialty.''.
    (c) Extension of Program.--Section 7619 of such title is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2019'' and inserting ``December 31, 2033''.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SPECIALTY 
              EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after subchapter VII the following new subchapter:

     ``SUBCHAPTER VIII--SPECIALTY EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

``Sec. 7691. Establishment
    ``As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the Secretary may 
carry out a student loan repayment program under section 5379 of title 
5. The program shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (in this chapter referred to 
as the `Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program').
``Sec. 7692. Purpose
    ``The purpose of the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program is 
to assist, through the establishment of an incentive program for 
certain individuals employed in the Veterans Health Administration, in 
meeting the staffing needs of the Veterans Health Administration for 
physicians in medical specialties for which the Secretary determines 
recruitment or retention of qualified personnel is difficult.
``Sec. 7693. Eligibility; preference; covered costs
    ``(a) Eligibility.--An individual is eligible to participate in the 
Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program if the individual--
            ``(1) is hired under section 7401 of this title to work in 
        an occupation described in section 7692 of this title;
            ``(2) owes any amount of principal or interest under a 
        loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that 
        individual to pay costs relating to a course of education or 
        training which led to a degree that qualified the individual 
        for the position referred to in paragraph (1); and
            ``(3) is--
                    ``(A) recently graduated from an accredited medical 
                or osteopathic school and matched to an accredited 
                residency program in a medical specialty described in 
                section 7692 of this title; or
                    ``(B) a physician in training in a medical 
                specialty described in section 7692 of this title with 
                more than two years remaining in such training.
    ``(b) Preference for Veterans.--In selecting individuals for 
participation in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program under 
this subchapter, the Secretary may give preference to veterans.
    ``(c) Covered Costs.--For purposes of subsection (a)(2), costs 
relating to a course of education or training include--
            ``(1) tuition expenses;
            ``(2) all other reasonable educational expenses, including 
        expenses for fees, books, equipment, and laboratory expenses; 
        and
            ``(3) reasonable living expenses.
``Sec. 7694. Specialty education loan repayment
    ``(a) In General.--Payments under the Specialty Education Loan 
Repayment Program shall consist of payments for the principal and 
interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title for 
individuals selected to participate in the Program to the holders of 
such loans.
    ``(b) Frequency of Payment.--The Secretary shall make payments for 
any given participant in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program 
on a schedule determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Maximum Amount; Waiver.--(1) The amount of payments made for 
a participant under the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program may 
not exceed $160,000 over a total of four years of participation in the 
Program, of which not more than $40,000 of such payments may be made in 
each year of participation in the Program.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary may waive the limitations under paragraph 
(1) in the case of a participant described in subparagraph (B). In the 
case of such a waiver, the total amount of payments payable to or for 
that participant is the total amount of the principal and the interest 
on the participant's loans referred to in subsection (a).
    ``(B) A participant described in this subparagraph is a participant 
in the Program who the Secretary determines serves in a position for 
which there is a shortage of qualified employees by reason of either 
the location or the requirements of the position.
``Sec. 7695. Choice of location
    ``Each participant in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment 
Program who completes residency may select, from a list of medical 
facilities of the Veterans Health Administration provided by the 
Secretary, at which such facility the participant will work in a 
medical specialty described in section 7692 of this title.
``Sec. 7696. Term of obligated service
    ``(a) In General.--In addition to any requirements under section 
5379(c) of title 5, a participant in the Specialty Education Loan 
Repayment Program must agree, in writing and before the Secretary may 
make any payment to or for the participant, to--
            ``(1) obtain a license to practice medicine in a State;
            ``(2) successfully complete post-graduate training leading 
        to eligibility for board certification in a specialty;
            ``(3) serve as a full-time clinical practice employee of 
        the Veterans Health Administration for 12 months for every 
        $40,000 in such benefits that the employee receives, but in no 
        case for fewer than 24 months; and
            ``(4) except as provided in subsection (b), to begin such 
        service as a full-time practice employee by not later than 60 
        days after completing a residency.
    ``(b) Fellowship.--In the case of a participant who receives an 
accredited fellowship in a medical specialty other than a medical 
specialty described in section 7692 of this title, the Secretary, on 
written request of the participant, may delay the term of obligated 
service under subsection (a) for the participant until after the 
participant completes the fellowship, but in no case later than 60 days 
after completion of such fellowship.
    ``(c) Penalty.--(1) An employee who does not complete a period of 
obligated service under this section shall owe the Federal Government 
an amount determined in accordance with the following formula:


``A=B x ((T-S)<divide>T)).
 

    ``(2) In the formula in paragraph (1):
            ``(A) `A' is the amount the employee owes the Federal 
        Government.
            ``(B) `B' is the sum of all payments to or for the 
        participant under the Specialty Education Loan Repayment 
        Program.
            ``(C) `T' is the number of months in the period of 
        obligated service of the employee.
            ``(D) `S' is the number of whole months of such period of 
        obligated service served by the employee.
``Sec. 7697. Relationship to Educational Assistance Program
    ``Assistance under the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program 
may be in addition to other assistance available to individuals under 
the Educational Assistance Program.''.
    (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 7601(a) of title 38, United States 
                Code, is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (5), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new paragraph:
            ``(6) the specialty education loan repayment program 
        provided for in subchapter VIII of this chapter.''.
                    (B) Section 7603(a)(1) of title 38, United States 
                Code, is amended by striking ``or VI'' and inserting 
                ``VI, or VIII''.
                    (C) Section 7604 of title 38, United States Code, 
                is amended by striking ``or VI'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``VI, or VIII''.
                    (D) Section 7631 of title 38, United States Code, 
                is amended--
                            (i) in subsection (a)(1)--
                                    (I) by striking ``and'' after 
                                ``scholarship amount''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``, and the 
                                maximum specialty education loan 
                                repayment amount'' after ``reduction 
                                payments amount''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b) by adding at the end 
                        the following new paragraph:
    ``(7) The term `specialty education loan repayment amount' means 
the maximum amount of specialty education loan repayment payments 
payable to or for a participant in the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program under subchapter VIII of 
this chapter, as specified in section 7694(c)(1) of this title and as 
previously adjusted (if at all) in accordance with this section.''.
                    (E) Section 7632 of title 38, United States Code, 
                is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and the 
                        Education Debt Reduction Program'' and 
                        inserting ``the Education Debt Reduction 
                        Program, and the Specialty Education Loan 
                        Repayment Program''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and 
                        per participant in the Education Debt Reduction 
                        Program'' and inserting ``per participant in 
                        the Education Debt Reduction Program, and per 
                        participant in the Specialty Education Loan 
                        Repayment Program''.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 76 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the items relating to subchapter VII the following:

      ``subchapter viii--specialty education loan repayment program

``Sec.
``7691. Establishment.
``7692. Purpose.
``7693. Eligibility; preference; covered costs.
``7694. Specialty education loan repayment.
``7695. Choice of location.
``7696. Term of obligated service.
``7697. Relationship to Educational Assistance Program.''.
    (c) Needs of the VHA.--In making determinations each year under 
section 7692 of title 38, United States Code, as enacted by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consider the anticipated 
needs of the Veterans Health Administration during the period two to 
six years in the future.
    (d) Offer Deadline.--In the case of an applicant who applies before 
receiving a residency match and whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
selects for participation in the Specialty Education Loan Repayment 
Program established by subsection (a), the Secretary shall offer 
participation to the applicant not later than 28 days after--
            (1) the applicant matches with a residency in a medical 
        specialty described in section 7692 of title 38, United States 
        Code, as enacted by subsection (a); and
            (2) such match is published.
    (e) Publicity.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such 
steps as the Secretary determines are appropriate to publicize the 
Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program established under subchapter 
VIII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, as enacted by 
subsection (a).

SEC. 4. VETERANS HEALING VETERANS MEDICAL ACCESS AND SCHOLARSHIP 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting 
through the Office of Academic Affiliations of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program under which the 
Secretary shall provide funding for the medical education of a total of 
ten eligible veterans. Such funding shall be provided for two veterans 
enrolled in each of the five Teague-Cranston medical schools in 
accordance with this section.
    (b) Eligible Veterans.--To be eligible to receive funding for 
medical education under this section, a veteran shall--
            (1) have been discharged from the Armed Forces not more 
        than ten years before the date of application for admission to 
        a Teague-Cranston medical school;
            (2) not be entitled to educational assistance under chapter 
        30, 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or 
        chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code;
            (3) apply for admission to a Teague-Cranston medical school 
        for the entering class of 2019;
            (4) indicate on such application for admission that the 
        veteran would like to be considered for an award of funding 
        under this section;
            (5) meet the minimum admissions criteria for the Teague-
        Cranston medical school to which the veteran applies; and
            (6) enter into an agreement described in subsection (e).
    (c) Award of Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Each Teague-Cranston medical school that 
        opts to participate in the program under this section shall 
        reserve two seats in the entering class of 2019 for eligible 
        veterans who receive funding under such program. Such funding 
        shall be awarded to the two eligible veterans with the highest 
        admissions rankings for such class at such school.
            (2) Amount of funding.--Each eligible veteran who receives 
        funding under this section shall receive an amount equal to the 
        actual cost of--
                    (A) tuition at the Teague-Cranston medical school 
                at which the veteran enrolls for four years;
                    (B) books, fees, and technical equipment;
                    (C) fees associated with the National Residency 
                Match Program;
                    (D) two away rotations performed during the fourth 
                year at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                facility; and
                    (E) a monthly stipend for the four-year period 
                during which the veteran is enrolled in medical school 
                in an amount to be determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Distribution of funding.--In the event that two or more 
        eligible veterans do not apply for admission at one of the 
        Teague-Cranston medical schools for the entering class of 2019, 
        the Secretary shall distribute the available funding to 
        eligible veterans who applied for admission at other Teague-
        Cranston medical schools.
    (d) Agreement.--
            (1) Terms of agreement.--Each eligible veteran who accepts 
        funding for medical education under this section shall enter 
        into an agreement with the Secretary that provides that the 
        veteran agrees--
                    (A) to maintain enrollment and attendance in the 
                medical school;
                    (B) while enrolled in such medical school, to 
                maintain an acceptable level of academic standing (as 
                determined by the medical school under regulations 
                prescribed by the Secretary);
                    (C) to complete post-graduate training leading to 
                eligibility for board certification in a speciality 
                applicable to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as 
                determined by the Secretary;
                    (D) after completion of medical school, to obtain a 
                license to practice medicine in a State; and
                    (E) after completion of medical school and post-
                graduate training, to serve as a full-time clinical 
                practice employee in the Veterans Health Administration 
                for a period of four years.
            (2) Breach of agreement.--If an eligible veteran who 
        accepts funding under this section breaches the terms of the 
        agreement described in paragraph (1), the United States shall 
        be entitled to recover damages in an amount equal to the total 
        amount of such funding received by the veteran.
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prevent any Teague-Cranston medical school from accepting 
more than two eligible veterans for the entering class of 2019.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than December 31, 2020, and 
annually thereafter for the subsequent three years, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on the pilot program under this section. 
Such report shall include the evaluation of the Secretary of the 
success of the pilot program, including the number of veterans who 
received funding under the program who matriculated and an evaluation 
of the academic progress of such veterans.
    (g) Teague-Cranston Medical Schools.--In this section, the term 
``Teague-Cranston medical school'' means any of the following:
            (1) Texas A&M College of Medicine.
            (2) Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State 
        University.
            (3) Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State 
        University.
            (4) Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall 
        University.
            (5) University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
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