--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254t" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "254t" heading: "Demonstration project" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254t" units: - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service" - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties" - "Part D — Primary Health Care" - "Subpart iii — scholarship program and loan repayment program" --- # §254t. Demonstration project - (a) **Program authorized—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall establish a demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to provide for the participation of individuals who are chiropractic doctors or pharmacists in the Loan Repayment [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [section 254l–1](/usc/42/254l–1.md) of this title. - (b) **Procedure—** An individual that receives assistance under this section with regard to the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [section 254l–1](/usc/42/254l–1.md) of this title shall comply with all rules and requirements described in such section (other than subparagraphs [(A)](/usc/42/254l–1.md?p=b-1-A) and [(B)](/usc/42/254l–1.md?p=b-1-B) of section 254l–1(b)(1) of this title) in order to receive assistance under this section. - (c) **Limitations—** - (1) **In general—** The demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in this section shall provide for the participation of individuals who shall provide [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) in rural and urban areas. - (2) **Availability of other health professionals—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not assign an individual receiving assistance under this section to provide obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) at a site unless— - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) has assigned a physician (as defined in [section 1395x(r) of this title](/usc/42/1395x.md?p=r)) or other health professional licensed to prescribe [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) to provide obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) at such site under section [254m](/usc/42/254m.md) or [254n](/usc/42/254n.md) of this title; and - (B) such physician or other health professional will provide obligated [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) at such site concurrently with the individual receiving assistance under this section. - (3) **Rules of construction—** - (A) **Supervision of individuals—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or imply that a physician or other health professional licensed to prescribe [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) must supervise an individual receiving assistance under the demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under this section, with respect to such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). - (B) **Licensure of health professionals—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law regarding licensure of health professionals. - (d) **Designations—** The demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in this section, and any [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) who are selected to participate in such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), shall not be considered by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) in the designation of a health professional shortage area under [section 254e of this title](/usc/42/254e.md) during fiscal years 2002 through 2004. - (e) **Rule of construction—** This section shall not be construed to require any [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to participate in the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in this section. - (f) **Report—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall evaluate the participation of individuals in the demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under this section and prepare and submit a report containing the information described in [paragraph (2)](#f-2) to— - (A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; - (B) the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and Education of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; - (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and - (D) the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and Education of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. - (2) **Content—** The report described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall detail— - (A) the manner in which the demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in this section has affected access to primary [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7), patient satisfaction, quality of care, and health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) provided for traditionally underserved populations; - (B) how the participation of chiropractic doctors and pharmacists in the Loan Repayment [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) might affect the designation of health professional shortage areas; and - (C) whether adding chiropractic doctors and pharmacists as permanent members of the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps would be feasible and would enhance the effectiveness of the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps. - (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** - (1) **In general—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2002 through 2004. - (2) **Fiscal year 2005—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) determines and certifies to Congress by not later than September 30, 2004, that the number of individuals participating in the demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) established under this section is insufficient for purposes of performing the evaluation described in [subsection (f)(1)](#f-1), the authorization of appropriations under [paragraph (1)](#g-1) shall be extended to include fiscal year 2005. ## Source credit (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 338L, as added Pub. L. 107–251, title III, § 317, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1653.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 254t, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 338L, as added Pub. L. 101–527, § 8, Nov. 6, 1990, 104 Stat. 2328, related to demonstration grants to States for community scholarship programs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–251, title III, § 316, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1653.