I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7177 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2022 Mr. Crist (for himself and Ms. Lee of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a scholarship and loan repayment program to incentivize physicians to enter into the field of sickle cell disease research and treatment, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2022 . 2. Advancing treatment and research pertaining to sickle cell disease Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: XIII Advancing treatment and research pertaining to sickle cell disease 340J. Scholarship and loan repayment program (a) In general To advance learning regarding sickle cell disease and to enhance the supply of physicians to treat such disease, especially with respect to adult populations, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall carry out a program consisting of entering into contracts with individuals under which— (1) the Secretary awards a scholarship under subsection (b) or agrees to make loan repayments under subsection (c) with respect to each individual; and (2) the individual agrees to serve for a period (in this section referred to as the period of obligated service ) as a physician engaged in— (A) sickle cell disease research; or (B) service in a public or private setting that is primarily focused on diagnosis, treatment, and education related to sickle cell disease in a health care facility, clinic, rural health clinic, mobile medical asset, or other facility as determined by the Secretary. (b) Scholarships (1) Eligibility To be eligible to participate in the scholarship program under this section, an individual shall— (A) be accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, as a full-time student in an accredited (as determined by the Secretary) educational institution in a State and in a course of study or program offered by such institution and approved by the Secretary, leading to a degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine; (B) submit an application to participate in the scholarship program; and (C) sign and submit to the Secretary, at the time of submittal of such application, a written contract (described in paragraph (2)) to accept payment of a scholarship and to serve (in accordance with this section) for the applicable period of obligated service. (2) Written contract The written contract under this subsection between the Secretary and an individual shall contain— (A) an agreement that— (i) subject to paragraph (1), the Secretary agrees to provide the individual with a scholarship in each such school year or years for a period of years (not to exceed four school years) determined by the individual, during which period the individual is pursuing a course of study described in paragraph (1)(A); and (ii) subject to paragraph (1), the individual agrees to— (I) accept provision of such a scholarship to the individual; (II) maintain enrollment in a course of study described in paragraph (1)(A) until the individual completes the course of study; (III) maintain an acceptable level of academic standing; (IV) complete a residency in a specialty that the Secretary determines is consistent with pursuit of a fellowship in hematology; (V) complete a fellowship in the specialty of hematology; and (VI) serve for a time period equal to one year for each school year for which the individual was provided a scholarship under this section; (B) a provision that any financial obligation of the United States arising out of the contract and any obligation of the individual which is conditioned thereon, is contingent upon funds being appropriated for scholarships under this section; (C) a statement of the damages to which the United States is entitled if the individual should breach the contract; and (D) such other statements of the rights and liabilities of the Secretary and of the individual as the Secretary determines appropriate, not inconsistent with the provisions of this section. (c) Loan repayments (1) Eligibility To be eligible to participate in the loan repayment program under this section, an individual shall— (A) have a degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine; be enrolled in an approved graduate training program in medicine or osteopathic medicine; or be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited (as determined by the Secretary) educational institution in a State, and in the final year of a course of study offered by such institution and approved by the Secretary, leading to a degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine; (B) submit an application to participate in the loan repayment program; and (C) sign and submit to the Secretary, at the time of submittal of such application, a written contract (described in paragraph (2)) to accept payment by the Secretary of the educational loans of the individual in consideration of the individual serving for a period of obligated service. (2) Written contract The written contract under this subsection between the Secretary and an individual shall contain— (A) an agreement that— (i) subject to paragraph (1), the Secretary agrees to pay on behalf of the individual the principal, interest, and related expenses on government and commercial loans received by the individual regarding the undergraduate or graduate education of the individual (or both), which loans were made for— (I) tuition expenses; (II) all other reasonable educational expenses, including fees, books, and laboratory expenses, incurred by the individual; or (III) reasonable living expenses as determined by the Secretary; and (ii) subject to paragraph (1), the individual agrees to— (I) accept loan payments on behalf of the individual; (II) maintain enrollment in a course of study described in paragraph (1)(C) (if applicable) until the individual completes the course of study; (III) maintain an acceptable level of academic standing; (IV) complete a residency in a specialty that the Secretary determines is consistent with pursuit of a fellowship in hematology; and (V) complete a fellowship in hematology; (B) a provision that any financial obligation of the United States arising out of the contract and any obligation of the individual which is conditioned thereon, is contingent upon funds being appropriated for loan repayments under this section; (C) a statement of the damages to which the United States is entitled if the individual should breach the contract; and (D) such other statements of the rights and liabilities of the Secretary and of the individual as the Secretary determines appropriate, not inconsistent with the provisions of this section. (d) Priority In awarding contracts under this section for scholarships and loan repayments, the Secretary may prioritize making awards to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. (e) Definition In this section, the term sickle cell disease research means research into the detection, diagnosis, treatment, or control of sickle cell disease. (f) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028. 340K. Community-based grants to engage the sickle cell disease population by designing education and advocacy programs and policies for health and community services (a) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program consisting of awarding grants to eligible entities for the establishment and support of education and advocacy programs that— (1) engage the sickle cell disease population, their families, or State and local governments in order to— (A) improve sickle cell disease health literacy; (B) disseminate information on health and community services related to sickle cell disease; or (C) improve the care and treatment decisionmaking process related to sickle cell disease; and (2) may include education and advocacy regarding fertility preservation and surrogacy options for individuals with sickle cell disease. (b) Applications To seek a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (c) Consideration In determining whether to award a grant under this section to an applicant, and the amount of a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider the need for sickle cell education or services in the area to be served using the grant. (d) Definition In this section, the term eligible entity means— (1) a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act) or nonprofit organization engaged in providing sickle cell disease education, information, or treatment services; (2) a community-based organization or faith-based organization or clinic that provides services to, or engages in, advocacy for individuals with sickle cell disease; or (3) a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive care to populations with sickle cell disease, including any such nonprofit organization that is a faith-based organization or community-based organization. (e) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028. .