To amend the Public Health Service Act to prioritize the treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries through the National Health Service Corps, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-4052
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2015-11-17
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Medical education

Mental health

Neurological disorders

Student aid and college costs

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2015-11-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-11-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise the priorities the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) uses in assigning National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members to health professional shortage areas and awarding contracts under the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Specifically, HHS must prioritize: (1) assignment of members to areas with a high number of veterans with ailments resulting from traumatic brain injuries, and (2) awarding contracts to health professionals receiving training or trained in addressing post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4052 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 17, 2015 Ms. Maxine Waters of California (for herself, Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Fattah , Mr. David Scott of Georgia , Mr. Scott of Virginia , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Al Green of Texas , Mr. Butterfield , Mr. Rangel , Mr. Meeks , Mr. Honda , Mr. Jeffries , and Mr. Hastings ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to prioritize the treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries through the National Health Service Corps, and for other purposes.

1. Prioritizing treatment of traumatic brain injuries and PTSD by National Health Service Corps (a) Priority in assigning Corps personnel Section 333A(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254f–1(a)(1) ) is amended by striking (1) give priority to and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (1) give priority to any such application that— (A) is made regarding the provision of primary health services to a health professional shortage area— (i) with the greatest such shortage; or (ii) serving a high number of veterans (as defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code) with mental and behavioral issues and other ailments resulting from traumatic brain injuries; and . (b) Priority for receiving loan repayment contracts Section 338B(d)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254l–1(d)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) to any application for such a contract submitted by an individual who has received, or is receiving, training with respect to assessment of risk for, early intervention for, and diagnosis, management, and treatment of, posttraumatic stress disorder (including in connection with traumatic brain injuries) pursuant to clinical practice guidelines of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. .