II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1480 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 2, 2011 Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To provide for the construction, renovation, and improvement of medical school facilities, and for other purposes.

1.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)In June 2011, construction employment declined by 68,470, and has fallen by 2,200,000 since the economic downturn began, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2)By 2020, the Nation will face a shortage of about 85,000 physicians, due in part to the aging population, according to the Council on Graduate Medical Education. (3)The American Academy of Family Physicians recommended in 2006 that to meet the need of primary care physicians in 2020 the United States would need to train 3,725 family physicians and 714 osteopathic physicians annually, with an overall goal of a 39 percent increase in family physicians. (4)The Association of American Medical Colleges has called for increased enrollment at Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited medical schools from 15 to 30 percent over the 2002 levels by 2015. This increase would boost the number of graduates to about 20,000. (5)The Federal Government has not supported significant construction of medical schools since the 1960s and 1970s.

2.

Definition of medical school

The term medical school means any accredited 4-year allopathic or osteopathic medical school.

3.

Grants

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a program of grants to medical schools for the purposes of constructing, renovating, or improving medical school facilities and increasing the supply of physicians. (b)

Use of grants

Amounts provided for grants under this section may be used to construct new facilities or renovate and improve existing facilities for the purpose described in subsection (a). (c)

Allocation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall allocate funds appropriated under this Act among medical schools based on the following criteria: (1)First priority shall be given to new medical schools accredited to admit students from fiscal years 2009 through 2014. (2)Priority shall be given to medical schools looking to create a new branch of an existing school. (3)Priority shall be given to medical schools that serve areas designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration as Medically Underserved Areas. (4)Funds shall only be allocated to medical schools that provide accountability and transparency in expending such funds.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.