Section 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”.
Creation of Opportunities for Medical Manpower in Underserved Neighborhoods by Indemnifying Tuition and Incentivizing Exceptional Service Act
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.
Sec. 2 Full repayment under National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program in case of 5-year commitment
Section 338B(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.”
Sec. 3 National Health Service Corps authorization of appropriations
Section 338H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q) is amended—
in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “this section” and inserting “this subpart”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Additional authorization of appropriations—In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.”