---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 256g"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "256g"
heading: "Grants for innovative programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/256g"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart x — primary dental programs"
---

# §256g. Grants for innovative programs

- (a) **Grant program authorized—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, is authorized to award grants to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) for the purpose of helping [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) develop and implement innovative [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to address the dental workforce needs of designated dental health professional shortage areas in a manner that is appropriate to the [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)’ individual needs.
- (b) **State activities—** A [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) receiving a grant under [subsection (a)](#a) may use funds received under the grant for—
  - (1) loan forgiveness and repayment [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for dentists who—
    - (A) agree to practice in designated dental health professional shortage areas;
    - (B) are dental [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) graduates who agree to serve as public health dentists for the Federal, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), or local government; and
    - (C) agree to—
      - (i) provide [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to patients regardless of such patients’ ability to pay; and
      - (ii) use a sliding payment scale for patients who are unable to pay the total cost of [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (2) dental recruitment and retention efforts;
  - (3) grants and low-interest or no-interest loans to help dentists who participate in the medicaid [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under title XIX of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.) to establish or expand [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) in designated dental health professional shortage areas by equipping dental offices or sharing in the overhead costs of such [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19);
  - (4) the establishment or expansion of dental residency [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in coordination with accredited dental training institutions in [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) without dental [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6);
  - (5) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) developed in consultation with [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and local dental societies to expand or establish oral health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and facilities in designated dental health professional shortage areas, including [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and facilities for children with special needs, such as—
    - (A) the expansion or establishment of a community-based dental facility, free-standing dental clinic, consolidated health center dental facility, [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6)-linked dental facility, or United States dental [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6)-based facility;
    - (B) the establishment of a mobile or portable dental clinic;
    - (C) the establishment or expansion of private dental [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to enhance capacity through additional equipment or additional hours of operation;
    - (D) the establishment or development of models for the provision of dental [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to children and adults, such as dental homes, including for the elderly, blind, individuals with disabilities, and individuals living in long-term care facilities; and
    - (E) the establishment of initiatives to reduce the use of emergency departments by individuals who seek dental [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) more appropriately delivered in a dental primary care setting;
  - (6) [placement](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-12) and support of dental students, dental residents, and advanced dentistry trainees;
  - (7) continuing dental education, including distance-based education;
  - (8) practice support through teledentistry conducted in accordance with [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) laws;
  - (9) community-based [prevention services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-8) such as water fluoridation and dental sealant [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (10) coordination with [local educational agencies](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=3) within the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to foster [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that promote children going into oral health or science professions;
  - (11) the establishment of faculty recruitment [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at accredited dental training institutions whose mission includes community outreach and [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and that have a demonstrated record of serving underserved [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f);
  - (12) the development of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) dental officer position or the augmentation of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) dental office to coordinate oral health and access issues in the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f); and
  - (13) any other activities determined to be appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).
- (c) **Application—**
  - (1) **In general—** Each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may reasonably require.
  - (2) **Assurances—** The application shall include assurances that the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) will meet the requirements of [subsection (d)](#d) and that the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) possesses sufficient infrastructure to manage the activities to be funded through the grant and to evaluate and report on the outcomes resulting from such activities.
- (d) **Matching requirement—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not make a grant to a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) under this section unless that [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) in carrying out the activities for which the grant was awarded, the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) will provide non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than 40 percent of Federal funds provided under the grant. The [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may provide the contributions in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and may provide the contributions from [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or private sources.
- (e) **Report—** Not later than 5 years after October 26, 2002, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing data relating to whether grants provided under this section have increased access to dental [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) in designated dental health professional shortage areas.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 340G, as added Pub. L. 107–251, title IV, § 403, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1661; amended Pub. L. 110–355, § 5, Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 3994; Pub. L. 115–302, § 3, Dec. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 4397.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(5)(D), (E). Pub. L. 115–302, § 3(1), added subpars. (D) and (E).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–302, § 3(2), substituted “$13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023” for “$25,000,000 for the 5-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year 2008”.

2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–355 substituted “$25,000,000” for “$50,000,000” and “2008” for “2002”.