COMMUNITIES Act

Bill: 116-hr-6676
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2020-05-01
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding

Government lending and loan guarantees

Higher education

Medical education

Rural conditions and development

Student aid and college costs

Urban and suburban affairs and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Creation of Opportunities for Medical Manpower in Underserved Neighborhoods by Indemnifying Tuition and Incentivizing Exceptional Service Act or the COMMUNITIES Act</b></p> <p>This bill increases the amount of student loan repayment available to eligible health care providers who agree to complete a five-year period of obligated service in a health professional shortage area. Specifically, for each year of service, the Department of Health and Human Services shall pay one-fifth of the total amount owed on a participating provider's qualifying student loans. Current law caps the maximum amount of student loan repayment that a provider may receive in exchange for such service.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6676 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2020 Mr. Rush introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for full repayment under National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program in case of a 5-year commitment, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creation of Opportunities for Medical Manpower in Underserved Neighborhoods by Indemnifying Tuition and Incentivizing Exceptional Service Act or the COMMUNITIES Act . 2. Full repayment under National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program in case of 5-year commitment Section 338(g)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254l–1(g)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (C) Full repayment in case of 5-year commitment In the case of an individual who, pursuant to subsection (f)(1)(B)(iv), agrees to serve for a period of obligated service equal to 5 years, the Secretary, for each such year of obligated service, shall pay (subject to the availability of appropriations) on behalf of the individual the total amount owed by such individual for loans described in paragraph (1), divided by 5. .