,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afhe ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #ab1 #bjai,ms4 ,bass introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to improve education opportunities for physician assistants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,physician ,assistant ,higher ,education ,modernization ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,instituting ,borrowing ,parity for physician assistant students under the ,federal ,direct ,loan ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #dee of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;e7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,instituting ,borrowing ,parity for physician assistant students ,notwithstanding section #dbh;,h7d77#b77;,a71 the maximum annual amount of ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loans that a graduate student in a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep77 may borrow in any academic year 7as defined in section #dha7;a77#b77 or its equivalent shall be-- 7#a7 #dj1jjj in the first academic year of such program2 7#b7 #dj1jjj in the second academic year of such program2 and 7#c7 #ae1jjj in the third academic year of such program4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to award years beginning more than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #c4 ,making physician assistants eligible for incentives when serving as primary care providers or faculty members 7a7 ,in general ,section #dbh,k of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgh-aa7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b71 by adding at the end the following3 7#ai7 ,physician assistants ,the individual is a physician assistant employed full-time-- 7,a7 as a physician assistant in a clinical setting providing primary care services2 or 7,b7 as a member of the physician assistant faculty at a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep774 2 7#b7 in subsection 7g71 by adding at the end the following3 7#aa7 ,physician assistant ,the term physician assistant means an individual who-- 7,a7 graduated from a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep772 7,b7 is certified as a physician assistant by the ,national ,commission on the ,certification of ,physician ,assistants or any successor organization2 and 7,c7 either-- 7i7 holds a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine as a physician assistant in the ,state in which the physician assistant practices in a clinical setting2 or 7ii7 is qualified for licensure in the ,state where the individual is employed as a full-time physician assistant faculty member of a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep774 2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7h71 by striking fiscal year #bjji and inserting fiscal year #bjbj4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to employment occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #d4 ,grants for physician assistant programs at historically black colleges and universities and predominantly black institutions 7a7 ,historically black colleges and universities ,section #gbc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacf;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 and 7#c7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#d71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 7,b7 in paragraph 7#aa71 by striking and at the end2 7,c7 by redesignating paragraph 7#ab7 as paragraph 7#ac72 and 7,d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#aa7 the following3 7#ab7 in the case of a grant for a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep77-- 7,a7 creating or improving facilities for ,internet or other distance education technologies1 including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services2 and 7,b7 collaborating with other institutions of higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree offerings2 and 4 7b7 ,predominantly black institutions ,section #gbd of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacf;b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 and 7#c7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#d71 by inserting physician assistant studies1 after allied health12 7,b7 by redesignating paragraph 7#ab7 as paragraph 7#ac72 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#aa7 the following3 7#ab7 in the case of a grant for a physician assistant education program 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep77-- 7,a7 creating or improving facilities for ,internet or other distance education technologies1 including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services2 and 7,b7 collaborating with other institutions of higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree offerings2 and 4 7c7 ,extension of authorization of appropriations ,subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #gbe of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacf;c7 are each amended by striking fiscal year #bjji and inserting fiscal year #bjbj4 #e4 ,physician assistant postbaccalaureate opportunities for ,hispanic ,americans 7a7 ,in general ,section #ead of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aajb;c7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,priority for physician assistant education programs ,the ,secretary shall give preference to an application by an eligible institution for a grant under this part that demonstrates that the grant funds awarded under this part will be used to support physician assistant education programs 7as defined in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep774 4 7b7 ,extension of authorization of appropriations ,section #ebh7;a77#b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aajc;g7a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjji and2 and 7#b7 by inserting after such sums as may be necessary for the following3 fiscal year #bjbj and4 #f4 ,grants to rural serving institutions of higher education for physician assistant education programs ,part ,q of title ,,viii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafaq7 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #hfa7;b71 by striking ,for the purposes of this section and inserting ,for the purposes of this part2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #hfa the following3 #hfb4 ,grants to support the development and expansion of physician assistant education programs at rural-serving institutions of higher education 7a7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary is authorized to award grants on a competitive basis to a rural-serving institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions-- 7,a7 to increase1 for students from rural areas1 enrollment and graduation rates for postbaccalaureate physician assistant education programs2 and 7,b7 to train physician assistants in rural areas through the development of new physician assistant education programs and the expansion of existing physician assistant education programs in rural areas4 7#b7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of not longer than #c years4 7#c7 ,limitations ,a rural-serving institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions shall not receive more than one grant under this section4 7b7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,each rural-serving institution of higher education or consortium of such institutions 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 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate the most potential and propose the most promising and innovative approaches for-- 7,a7 creating new physician assistant education programs in rural areas2 7,b7 increasing the number of physician assistants that practice medicine in rural areas2 7,c7 meeting the employment needs of regional employers of physician assistants with graduates of physician assistant education programs at rural-serving institutions of higher education2 and 7,d7 improving the health of ,americans residing in rural areas4 7c7 ,use of funds ,a rural-serving institution of higher education or consortium of such institutions that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds for the establishment and expansion of physician assistant education programs in rural areas4 7d7 ,physician assistant education program ,in this section1 the term physician assistant education program has the meaning given to such term in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbj and each of the five succeeding fiscal years4 4 #g4 ,improving physician assistant education programs ,title ,,viii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife is amended by inserting after section #hih 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafa;aa-#a7 the following3 ,,bb ,physician assistant education enhancement #hii4 ,demonstration program to support physician assistant faculty preparation 7a7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide grants to not more than #aj institutions of higher education to develop1 expand1 and support graduate-level programs to prepare certified physician assistants to become physician assistant faculty members in accredited graduate-level physician assistant education programs through collaboration between such a program and an institution of higher education that awards a graduate degree in education4 7#b7 ,cap ,no institution of higher education may receive more than an aggregate of #fjj1jjj under this section during fiscal years #bjbj1 #bjba1 and #bjbb4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,an institution of higher education desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary1 at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require1 an application including-- 7,a7 a description of the intended collaboration to develop1 expand1 and support graduate-level programs to prepare certified physician assistants to become physician assistant faculty members in accredited graduate-level physician assistant education programs2 and 7,b7 an estimate of the number of students who will be affected by such collaboration4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate the potential to maximize quality instruction through the use of technology4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of the first grant under this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7#a7 describes the steps taken to implement this section2 and 7#b7 lists all recipients of grants under this section as of the date of such submission4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #aja4 7#b7 ,physician assistant education program ,the term physician assistant education program has the meaning given such term in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbb4 #hii;,a4 ,grants for infrastructure and technology improvements in physician assistant education programs 7a7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary is authorized to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to not more than #bj physician assistant education programs to enhance physician assistant education programs and improve patient safety by supporting the purchase of new infrastructure and technology4 7#b7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of not longer than five years4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,a physician assistant education program may apply for a grant under this section by submitting an application to the ,secretary at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require that demonstrates how the grant funds will be used to improve physician assistant education programs and patient safety with respect to such programs4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate the potential to-- 7,a7 increase the number of physician assistant graduates2 and 7,b7 maximize accessibility to new and emerging technologies1 including human patient simulators for physician assistant education programs1 through partnerships between the grant recipient and other institutions of higher education4 7c7 ,use of funds ,a physician assistant education program that receives a grant awarded under this section may use the grant for one or more of the following purposes3 7#a7 ,purchase1 rental1 or lease of scientific1 medical or laboratory equipment1 including human patient simulators and other new and emerging technologies1 for education purposes1 including instructional and research purposes4 7#b7 ,construction1 maintenance and renovation1 and improvement of classrooms1 libraries1 laboratories1 and other instructional facilities1 including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services4 7#c7 ,supporting faculty training in the use of new and emerging technologies1 including human patient simulators4 7#d7 ,other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection 7b7 that-- 7,a7 contribute to carrying out the purposes of this section2 and 7,b7 are approved by the ,secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,physician assistant education program ,the term physician assistant education program has the meaning given such term in section #gii;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep74 7#b7 ,human patient simulator ,the term human patient simulator means a computerized device that is anatomically precise and responds physiologically to interventions4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbj and each of the five succeeding fiscal years4 4