[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6613 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6613

   To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of 
  dentists serving health professional shortage areas, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2008

  Mr. Conyers (for himself, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Lee, Mrs. 
   Christensen, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. 
   Cohen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Courtney) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of 
  dentists serving health professional shortage areas, 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 ``Improving Dental Access in 
Underserved Communities Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Dental disease is a chronic problem among low-income 
        and vulnerable populations. It is the most common, chronic 
        childhood disease and is largely preventable.
            (2) Access to oral health care services by underserved 
        populations is affected by many factors including but not 
        limited to income, public insurance coverage, geography, and 
        transportation.
            (3) Providing incentives for dentists to establish 
        practices in underserved areas could help alleviate barriers to 
        obtaining care.
            (4) According to the American Dental Education Association 
        (ADEA) dental school graduates' student loan debt now exceeds 
        $145,000.
            (5) According to a 1998 American Dental Association (ADA) 
        member survey, the median cost of starting a dental practice 
        was $150,000 with an average member reporting costs over 
        $174,000. Today that cost is estimated at close to $250,000.
            (6) Over 90 percent of practicing dentists are in the 
        private sector. More needs to be done to make it financially 
        attractive for those dentists to participate in the Medicaid 
        and SCHIP programs, which generally have low reimbursement 
        service rates.
            (7) The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program has a 
        proven record of supplying physicians and dentists to 
        underserved areas, and has played an important role in 
        expanding access for underserved populations in rural and inner 
        city communities.
            (8) Continued expansion of the National Health Service 
        Corps program is strongly recommended.
            (9) The growing debt incurred by graduating dental students 
        is likely to increase the interest and willingness of graduates 
        of United States dental schools to apply for National Health 
        Service Corps program funding and awards.

SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP 
              PROGRAM AND LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Reauthorization of Appropriations.--Section 338H(a) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q(a)) is amended by striking 
``$146,250,000'' and all that follows through the period and inserting 
``$300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.''.
    (b) Scholarships for Dental Students.--Section 338H of such Act is 
further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Scholarships for Dental Students.--Of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall obligate $100,000,000 for contracts for scholarships under this 
subpart to individuals who are accepted for enrollment, or enrolled, in 
a course of study or program described in section 338A(b)(1)(B) that 
leads to a degree in dentistry.''.

SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS PROVIDING GRANTS FOR HEALTH 
              PROFESSIONS TRAINING FOR DIVERSITY.

    (a) Grants for Centers of Excellence.--Section 736(h)(1) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293(h)(1)) is amended by striking 
``$26,000,000'' and all that follows through ``2002'' and inserting 
``$33,610,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013''.
    (b) Educational Assistance for Individuals From Disadvantaged 
Backgrounds.--Section 740(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 293d(c)) is amended 
by striking ``$29,400,000'' and all that follows through the period and 
inserting ``$35,650,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.''.
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