Grants for community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities

(a)

In general

Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c) is amended—(1)by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and(2)by inserting after subsection (g) the following:

(h)

Grants for community-Based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities

(1)

Grants

The Director may award grants to eligible entities to expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities to facilitate long-term, sustainable physician practice in high-need communities by supporting medical student clinical rotations in health care facilities in such areas and communities, including in outpatient settings.(2)

Period of grants

A grant under this subsection shall be for a period of 1 to 5 years, as determined by the Director.(3)

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be a consortium of—(A)one or more osteopathic or allopathic medical schools; and(B)one or more of the following:(i)A rural health clinic.(ii)A Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act).(iii)A health care facility located in a medically underserved community.(4)

Applications

To seek a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity, shall prepare and submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require, including—(A)a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided through the grant;(B)an explanation of the reasons why Federal assistance is required to carry out the project;(C)a description of the manner in which the project funded through the grant will assure continuous quality improvement in the provision of services by the entity;(D)a description of how the populations in the rural area or medically underserved community to be served through the grant will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the activities carried out by the entity;(E)a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;(F)a description of how the project will be evaluated; and(G)such other information as the Director determines to be appropriate.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c) is amended—(1)in subsection (a), by striking and for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities and inserting for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities, and for expanding the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities;(2)in subsection (d)(2)—(A)in subparagraph (A), by striking subsections (e), (f), and (g) and inserting subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h);(B)in subparagraph (B)—(i)in clause (ii), by striking and at the end;(ii)in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(iii)by adding at the end the following:

(iv)expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities under subsection (h).

; and

(3)in subsection (j), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), by striking subsections (e), (f), and (g) and inserting subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h).