,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ejab ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #af1 #bjbf,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to award grants for career support for a skilled1 internationally educated health care workforce4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,welcome ,back to the ,health ,care ,workforce ,act4 #b4 ,support for skilled internationally educated health care workforce 7a7 ,in general ,subpart #c of part ,e of title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bie;f et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ggi4 ,support for skilled internationally educated health care workforce 7a7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,welcome ,back to the ,health ,care ,workforce ,act1 the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to provide career support for internationally educated health care professionals to integrate into1 and expand1 the health care workforce4 7#b7 ,consultation ,before awarding any grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall consult with the ,secretary of ,labor and the ,secretary of ,education4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,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 7#b7 ,contents ,an application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a description of each project described in subsection 7d7 that the eligible entity proposes to develop or continue under the grant2 7,b7 information demonstrating that the eligible entity has the capacity to fully carry out and administer such projects2 7,c7 a plan for the proposed projects that includes1 at a minimum-- 7i7 demographic information regarding the population to be served by the grant and how the current health care workforce1 as of the date of application1 is not meeting the health needs of the community to be served1 including information on the health care workforce shortages in the area to be served by the grant2 and 7ii7 a description of how the eligible entity will make use of grant funds to support the identification and advancement of internationally educated health care professionals in the geographic area to be served by the grant2 7,d7 a description of the eligible entity's experience in working with internationally educated health care professionals2 7,e7 a description of the partnership the eligible entity has formed with various entities1 including institutions of higher education and health care employers2 and 7,f7 any additional information determined relevant by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities whose projects support the recruitment and retention of-- 7#a7 internationally educated health care professionals in professions in communities experiencing gaps between their existing health care workforce1 as of the date of the application for the grant1 and the needs of the community2 or 7#b7 internationally educated health care professionals in rural communities4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,supported projects 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to carry out-- 7i7 #a or more system-level improvement projects described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7ii7 #a or more individual-level improvement projects described in subparagraph 7,c74 7,b7 ,system-level improvements ,a project described in this subparagraph expands culturally and linguistically competent supports for internationally educated health care professionals1 which may include-- 7i7 establishing a network of partners that offer prerequisite educational opportunities and continuing education opportunities2 7ii7 developing peer support and mentoring opportunities2 7iii7 educating employers regarding the abilities and capacities of internationally educated health care professionals2 7iv7 developing career ladder opportunities for internationally educated health care professionals1 such as-- 7,i7 developing a system to provide ongoing supportive services once employment is obtained2 7,,ii7 funding leadership development1 continuing education1 preparatory classes1 examinations1 and licensing and certification costs1 in order to support health care workforce advancement2 or 7,,iii7 education and support on how to serve as an educator in a clinical or academic setting2 or 7v7 creating and carrying out projects for the purposes of increasing the retention of internationally educated health care professionals in the health care workforce4 7,c7 ,individual-level improvements ,a project described in this subparagraph tailors individual support for internationally educated health care professionals1 which may include-- 7i7 support for the licensing process2 7ii7 funding and facilitating access to accelerated and contextualized courses on ,english as a second language and board or licensure examination preparation2 7iii7 culturally competent individualized career counseling and coaching2 7iv7 individualized guidance and support for the credentialing evaluation process2 7v7 providing individualized work-readiness supports and clinical experience and training for internationally educated health care professionals who need such supports1 experience1 or training2 7vi7 educating internationally educated health care professionals employed by the eligible entity on their rights as employees2 7vii7 providing individualized supportive services to internationally educated health care professionals in order to support their employment1 retention1 or career advancement1 which may include support for living expenses1 health care1 or transportation2 or 7viii7 assisting internationally educated health care professionals in obtaining overseas academic or training records4 7#b7 ,use for administrative costs ,each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than #aj percent of the grant funds for costs associated with the administration of the projects under this subsection4 7#c7 ,minimum requirement to provide direct support ,each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use not less than #bj percent of the grant funds to carry out projects described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7e7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant only to supplement1 and not supplant1 the amount of funds that otherwise would be available to address the recruitment1 training and education1 retention1 and advancement of internationally educated health care professionals in the health care workforce of the ,state or region served by the eligible entity4 7f7 ,evaluations and reports 7#a7 ,reporting requirements by grant recipients 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall annually provide a report on the grant to the ,secretary1 at such time and containing such data and information as requested by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include-- 7i7 the number of internationally educated health care professionals who participated in the projects supported under the grant2 and 7ii7 for each project carried out under the grant1 in the aggregate and disaggregated by the demographic categories as required by the ,secretary-- 7,i7 the number of internationally educated health care professionals who accessed services1 benefits1 or supports through the project2 7,,ii7 the number of internationally educated health care professionals who through the project attained employment in the health care workforce1 in the aggregate and disaggregated by occupation and industry2 7,,iii7 the number of internationally educated health care professionals who participated in the project and withdrew1 unsuccessfully attempted to obtain board certification1 or were terminated from the project without completing training or attaining employment in the health care workforce2 and 7,,iv7 data on the country of education of the participating internationally educated health care professionals4 7#b7 ,annual reports to ,congress by ,secretary ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of the ,welcome ,back to the ,health ,care ,workforce ,act1 and each year thereafter until all projects supported under this section are completed1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to ,congress a report on the progress of each project supported under a grant under this section4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a consortium of #b or more of the following3 7,a7 ,a hospital1 health system1 or other entity that provides health care4 7,b7 ,a community-based or other nonprofit entity with experience in clinical health or public health services4 7,c7 ,an institution of higher education4 7,d7 ,an area health education center4 7,e7 ,a ,state government1 local government1 or ,indian ,tribe4 7,f7 ,a ,federally qualified health center4 7,g7 ,any other type of entity determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,employ2 employer ,the terms employ and employer have the meanings given the terms in section #c of the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich4 7#c7 ,health care workforce ,the term health care workforce means the workforce comprised of health care providers with direct patient care and support responsibilities and public health workers4 7#d7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act4 7#e7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 7#f7 ,internationally educated health care professional ,the term internationally educated health care professional means an individual who-- 7,a7 completed the education requirements for a health care workforce profession in another country2 and 7,b7 is-- 7i7 lawfully admitted for permanent residence2 7ii7 admitted as a refugee under section #bjg of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act2 7iii7 granted asylum under section #bjh of such ,act2 or 7iv7 an alien otherwise authorized to be employed in the ,united ,states4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4 4