S. 898 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 898 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2015Mr. Kirk (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the participation of optometrists in the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Health Service Corps Improvement Act of 2015. 2. Participation of optometrists in National Health Service Corps (1) Primary health care services Section 331 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(3)(D), by striking or mental health, and inserting optometry, or mental health,; and (B) in subsection (b)(2), by striking and physician assistants and inserting optometrists, and physician assistants. (2) Scholarship program Section 338A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking and physician assistants and inserting optometrists, and physician assistants; and (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking or other health profession and inserting optometry, or other health profession. (3) Loan repayment program (A) Participation Section 338B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1) is amended— (i) in subsection (a)(1), by striking and physician assistants and inserting optometrists, and physician assistants; (ii) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking or another health profession and inserting optometry, or another health profession; and (iii) in subsections (b)(1)(B) and (b)(1)(C)(ii), by striking the term or other health profession each place such term appears and inserting optometry, or other health profession. (B) Period of obligated service Clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 338C(b)(5)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254m(b)(5)(C)) are amended by striking the term or other health profession each place such term appears and inserting optometry, or other health profession.