,i #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cidc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #e1 #bjae ,ms4 ,bass introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to provide loan repayment incentives for physician assistants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,physician ,assistant ,education ,public ,health ,initiatives ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,student loan repayment for certain physician assistants 7a7 ,in general ,part ,c of title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bick et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,,iii ,physician ,assistants #gdi;,c4 ,faculty positions in physician assistant education program loan repayment 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,contracts ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall enter into contracts with eligible individuals under which such an individual agrees to serve as a full-time member of the faculty at a graduate-level physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b7 in consideration of the ,federal ,government agreeing to pay1 for each year of such service1 at the end of each such year1 not more than #aj1jjj of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such individual4 7#b7 ,cap ,the ,secretary may not pay more than #de1jjj under this section for any individual4 7b7 ,definitions 7#a7 ,eligible individual ,in this section1 the term eligible individual means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a citizen1 national1 or lawful permanent resident of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 has a degree from a graduate-level physician assistant education program2 7,c7 has contracted with a graduate-level physician assistant education program to serve as a member of the faculty for not less than #b years2 and 7,d7 either-- 7i7 holds a license as a physician assistant2 or 7ii7 is qualified for licensure as a physician assistant in a ,state where such individual serves as a full-time member of the faculty at a graduate-level physician assistant education program4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 #gdi;,d4 ,physician assistant primary care provider loan repayment 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall enter into contracts with eligible individuals under which such an individual agrees to serve for at least #b years as a full-time physician assistant in a health professional shortage area1 in a medically underserved area1 or at a health center in consideration of the ,federal ,government agreeing to pay the eligible amount of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such individual4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible amount ,the term eligible amount means1 with respect to an eligible individual who has entered into a contract under subsection 7a71 with respect to the aggregate principal and interest on educational loans of such individual outstanding on the date such individual began the service described in such contract-- 7,a7 for each of the first two years of service under such contract1 #cj percent of such aggregate principal and interest2 and 7,b7 for the third year1 if any1 of service under such contract1 #be percent of such aggregate principal and interest4 7#b7 ,eligible individual ,the term eligible individual means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a citizen1 national1 or lawful permanent resident of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 has a degree from a graduate-level physician assistant education program2 and 7,c7 has contracted with a health care provider located in a health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area or with a health center to serve as a physician assistant for not less than #b years4 7#c7 ,health center ,the term health center has the meaning given such term in section #ccj7;a74 7#d7 ,medically underserved area ,the term medically underserved area has the meaning given the term medically underserved community in section #gii;,b7#f74 7#e7 ,health professional shortage area ,the term health professional shortage area has the meaning given such term in section #ccb7;a74 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to service occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #c4 ,extending authorization of appropriations to support faculty development and disadvantaged students ,section #gdj of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bic;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by inserting after #bjad the following3 and each of the fiscal years #bjag through #bjba2 7#b7 in subsection 7b71 by inserting after #bjad the following3 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjag through #bjba2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7c71 by inserting after #bjad the following3 and each of the fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 #d4 ,reauthorization of primary care training and enhancement programs ,section #gdg7;c7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bick7c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by inserting after #bjad the following3 and each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjba2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking ,fifteen and inserting ,at least #ae4 #e4 ,grants for research on physician assistant education 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall provide grants to eligible entities to fund eligible researchers to increase research on physician assistant education4 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,condition of receipt ,as a condition of receipt of a grant under this section1 an entity shall each year award not fewer than eight eligible researchers funds to support physician assistant education research4 7d7 ,report requirement ,an entity receiving a grant under this section shall provide to the ,secretary with respect to each year that such entity receives funds under this section a report on the activities conducted using such funds1 including-- 7#a7 the number of researchers supported during such year by such entity using such funds2 7#b7 a list of the researchers counted under paragraph 7#a71 organized by researcher1 including-- 7,a7 the institution such researcher is affiliated with2 and 7,b7 the research topic of such researcher2 7#c7 citations to published clinical and scientific research by researchers described in paragraph 7#a7 that is attributable to support under this section2 7#d7 an evaluation of the benefits of grants under this section2 and 7#e7 any other information the ,secretary may request4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means an organization that-- 7,a7 is a non-profit organization2 and 7,b7 has demonstrated expertise in physician assistant education and faculty development4 7#b7 ,eligible researcher ,the term eligible researcher means1 with respect to an eligible entity1 a researcher that-- 7,a7 has demonstrated expertise in physician assistant education and faculty development2 and 7,b7 at such time and in such manner as such entity may require1 provides such entity with a research proposal on improving physician assistant education and faculty development4 7#c7 ,physician assistant education ,the term physician assistant education means selecting1 educating1 and graduating students in accredited graduate physician assistant educational programs4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4