[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1603 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1603
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education
opportunities for physician assistants, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 17, 2017
Ms. Bass introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education
opportunities for physician assistants, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Physician Assistant Higher Education
Modernization Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. INCREASING ANNUAL LOAN LIMITS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDENTS
UNDER THE FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(r) Increasing Annual Loan Limits for Physician Assistant
Students.--Notwithstanding section 428H(d)(2)(A), the maximum annual
amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans that a graduate
student in a physician assistant education program (as defined in
section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)) may
borrow in any academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its
equivalent shall be--
``(1) $40,000 in the first academic year of such program;
``(2) $40,000 in the second academic year of such program;
and
``(3) $15,000 in the third academic year of such
program.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
with respect to award years beginning more 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. MAKING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES WHEN
SERVING AS PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS OR FACULTY MEMBERS.
(a) In General.--Section 428K of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1078-11) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``(19) Physician assistants.--The individual is a physician
assistant employed full-time--
``(A) as a physician assistant in a clinical
setting providing primary care services; or
``(B) as a member of the physician assistant
faculty at a physician assistant education program (as
defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).'';
(2) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
``(11) Physician assistant.--The term `physician assistant'
means an individual who--
``(A) graduated from a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p));
``(B) is certified as a physician assistant by the
National Commission on the Certification of Physician
Assistants or any successor organization; and
``(C) either--
``(i) 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 setting; or
``(ii) 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 (as
defined in section 799B of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''; and
(3) in subsection (h), by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2018''.
(b) 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 Act.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND PREDOMINANTLY BLACK
INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Historically Black Colleges and Universities.--Section 723 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(B) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph
(13); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (11) the
following:
``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
``(A) creating or improving facilities for Internet
or other distance education technologies, including
purchase or rental of telecommunications technology
equipment or services; and
``(B) collaborating with other institutions of
higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree
offerings; and''.
(b) Predominantly Black Institutions.--Section 724 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph
(13); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (11) the
following:
``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
``(A) creating or improving facilities for Internet
or other distance education technologies, including
purchase or rental of telecommunications technology
equipment or services; and
``(B) collaborating with other institutions of
higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree
offerings; and''.
(c) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsections (a)
and (b) of section 725 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1136c) are each amended by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting
``fiscal year 2018''.
SEC. 5. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HISPANIC AMERICANS.
(a) In General.--Section 514 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1102c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) 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 (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''.
(b) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Section
528(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1103g(a)(2))
is amended--
(1) by striking ``$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and'';
and
(2) by inserting after ``such sums as may be necessary
for'' the following: ``fiscal year 2018 and''.
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO RURAL SERVING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Part Q of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1161q) is amended--
(1) in section 861(b), by striking ``For the purposes of
this section'' and inserting ``For the purposes of this part'';
and
(2) by inserting after section 861 the following:
``SEC. 862. GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT RURAL-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
``(a) Grants.--
``(1) 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--
``(A) to increase, for students from rural areas,
enrollment and graduation rates for postbaccalaureate
physician assistant education programs; and
``(B) 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 areas.
``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall
be awarded for a period of not longer than 3 years.
``(3) Limitations.--A rural-serving institution of higher
education or a consortium of such institutions shall not
receive more than one grant under this section.
``(b) Applications.--
``(1) 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 time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate
the most potential and propose the most promising and
innovative approaches for--
``(A) creating new physician assistant education
programs in rural areas;
``(B) increasing the number of physician assistants
that practice medicine in rural areas;
``(C) meeting the employment needs of regional
employers of physician assistants with graduates of
physician assistant education programs at rural-serving
institutions of higher education; and
``(D) improving the health of Americans residing in
rural areas.
``(c) 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 areas.
``(d) Physician Assistant Education Program.--In this section, the
term `physician assistant education program' has the meaning given to
such term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
295p).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2018 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.''.
SEC. 7. IMPROVING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by
inserting after section 898 (20 U.S.C. 1161aa-1) the following:
``PART BB--PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT
``SEC. 899. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
FACULTY PREPARATION.
``(a) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide grants to
not more than 10 institutions of higher education to develop,
expand, 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 education.
``(2) Cap.--No institution of higher education may receive
more than an aggregate of $600,000 under this section during
fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An institution of higher education
desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the
Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may
require, an application including--
``(A) a description of the intended collaboration
to develop, expand, and support graduate-level programs
to prepare certified physician assistants to become
physician assistant faculty members in accredited
graduate-level physician assistant education programs;
and
``(B) an estimate of the number of students who
will be affected by such collaboration.
``(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to
applications that demonstrate the potential to maximize quality
instruction through the use of technology.
``(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the first
grant under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report that--
``(1) describes the steps taken to implement this section;
and
``(2) lists all recipients of grants under this section as
of the date of such submission.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such
term in section 101.
``(2) Physician assistant education program.--The term
`physician assistant education program' has the meaning given
such term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 295p).
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section
for fiscal years 2018 through 2020.
``SEC. 899A. GRANTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS IN
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
``(a) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to not more than 20 physician
assistant education programs to enhance physician assistant
education programs and improve patient safety by supporting the
purchase of new infrastructure and technology.
``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall
be awarded for a period of not longer than five years.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) 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 programs.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate
the potential to--
``(A) increase the number of physician assistant
graduates; and
``(B) maximize accessibility to new and emerging
technologies, including human patient simulators for
physician assistant education programs, through
partnerships between the grant recipient and other
institutions of higher education.
``(c) 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 purposes:
``(1) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific, medical or
laboratory equipment, including human patient simulators and
other new and emerging technologies, for education purposes,
including instructional and research purposes.
``(2) Construction, maintenance and renovation, and
improvement of classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other
instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of
telecommunications technology equipment or services.
``(3) Supporting faculty training in the use of new and
emerging technologies, including human patient simulators.
``(4) Other activities proposed in the application
submitted pursuant to subsection (b) that--
``(A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of
this section; and
``(B) are approved by the Secretary as part of the
review and acceptance of such application.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Physician assistant education program.--The term
`physician assistant education program' has the meaning given
such term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 295p).
``(2) Human patient simulator.--The term `human patient
simulator' means a computerized device that is anatomically
precise and responds physiologically to interventions.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2018 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.''.
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