[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2027-S2030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
        Kennedy, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Ms. 
        Mikulski, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 605. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote and 
improve the allied health professions; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, early in the 109th Congress I introduced 
a bill to address the troubling shortage of allied health professionals 
in our country. Sadly, we were unable to act on this bill despite 
continuing deficiencies in the health care workforce. That is why, 
today, I am reintroducing the Allied Health Reinvestment Act, along 
with my good colleagues, Senators Bingaman, Boxer, Kennedy, Landrieu, 
Lieberman, Lincoln, Mikulski, and Murray.
  Allied health professionals constitute roughly one third of the 
American healthcare workforce. These individuals take x-rays, perform 
lab tests, and provide emergency services. They help rehabilitate the 
injured, manage health records, and ensure patients are eating right. 
Allied health professionals are responsible for a critical and diverse 
array of functions, working with doctors and nurses to keep patients 
healthy.
  The allied health professions recognized in this bill include 
professionals in the areas of: dental hygiene, dietetics/nutrition, 
emergency medical services, health information management, clinical 
laboratory sciences/medical technology, cytotechnology, occupational 
therapy, physical therapy, radiologic technology, nuclear medical 
technology, rehabilitation counseling, respiratory therapy, and speech 
language-pathology/audiology. This is by no means a complete list of 
allied health professions, which is why the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services will have the authority to determine additional 
professions that can benefit.
  Today, many allied health professions suffer from existing workforce 
shortages. The American Hospital Association (AHA) reports vacancy 
rates of 18 percent for radiology technicians, 15.3 percent for imaging 
technicians, and 12.7 percent for pharmacy technicians. In my State 
alone, the Washington State Hospital Association reports vacancy rates 
of 14.3 percent for ultrasound technologists, 11.3 percent for 
radiology technicians, and 10.9 percent for nuclear medicine 
technologists.
  These shortages have real consequences for patients, often extending 
wait times for important test results or routine examinations. Every 
time I meet with hospital officials in my State, I always learn how 
patient care is hurt by the lack of available healthcare workers.
  Enrollment figures in allied health education programs suggest we 
will not have the individuals available to meet the challenges created 
by existing shortages. The Association of Schools of Allied Health 
Professionals (ASAHP) reports in a 2006 survey of 87 member 
institutions that enrollment for a number of allied health programs 
have not reached capacity for the seventh straight year. The 
Institutional Profile Survey, which the ASAHP conducts every year, 
shows under-enrollment by 55 percent in dietetics, 54 percent in health 
administration, 49 percent in rehabilitation counseling, 43 percent in 
health information management, 38 percent in speech language pathology/
audiology, 33 percent in emergency medical sciences, 26 percent in 
nuclear medicine technology, 25 percent in clinical laboratory 
sciences/medical technology, and 20 percent in cytotechnology.
  These rates cannot continue. On top of existing workforce shortages, 
our health system faces a growing senior population, a group that 
typically requires more care. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the 
section of our population age 65 and over will begin to rapidly 
increase in 2011 when the first of the baby boom generation reaches age 
65. This increase will create greater demand on all sectors of the 
healthcare workforce.
  The bill my colleagues and I introduce today, like the Nurse 
Reinvestment Act in the 107th Congress, intends to provide incentives 
for individuals to seek and complete high-quality allied health 
education and training.
  The bill offers allied health education, practice, and retention 
grants. Education grants will be used to expand enrollment in allied 
health education programs, especially by underrepresented racial and 
ethnic minority students, and provide educational opportunities through 
new technologies and methods, including distance-learning. Practice 
grants will establish or expand allied health practice arrangements in 
non-institutional settings to demonstrate methods that will improve 
access to primary health care in rural areas and other medically 
underserved communities. Retention grants will promote career 
advancement for allied health personnel.
  Grants will also be made available for health care facilities to 
enable them to carry out demonstrations of models and best practices in 
allied health for the purpose of developing innovative strategies or 
approaches for retention of allied health professionals. These grants 
will be awarded in a variety of geographic regions to a range of 
different types of facilities, including those in rural, urban, and 
suburban areas.
  Furthermore, this bill will give the Secretary of HHS, acting through 
the Administrator of HRSA, the authority to enter into an agreement 
with any institution that offers an eligible allied health education 
program to establish and operate a faculty loan fund to increase the 
number of qualified allied health faculty. Loans may be granted to 
faculty pursuing a full-time course of study or, at the discretion of 
the Secretary, a part-time course of study in an advanced degree 
program.
  Finally, the Allied Health Reinvestment Act will establish a 
scholarship program modeled after the National Health Service Corps 
that provides scholarships to individuals seeking allied health 
education in exchange for service by those individuals in rural and 
other medically underserved areas.
  The Allied Health Reinvestment Act represents a serious commitment on 
our part to confront a problem that will only grow more serious in the 
future. Our system of care cannot operate without the dedicated allied 
health professionals working today, and we must take the actions 
necessary to ensure that there is a strong workforce that can serve in 
the future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 605

       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 ``Allied Health Reinvestment 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States Census Bureau and other reports 
     highlight the increased demand for acute and chronic health 
     care services among both the general population and a rapidly 
     growing aging portion of the population.
       (2) The calls for reduction in medical errors, increased 
     patient safety, and quality of care have resulted in an 
     amplified call for allied health professionals to provide 
     health care services.
       (3) Several allied health professions are characterized by 
     workforce shortages, declining enrollments in allied health 
     education programs, or a combination of both factors, and 
     hospital officials have reported vacancy rates in positions 
     occupied by allied health professionals.
       (4) Many allied health education programs are facing 
     significant economic pressure that could force their closure 
     due to an insufficient number of students.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to provide 
     incentives for individuals to seek

[[Page S2028]]

     and complete high quality allied health education and 
     training and provide additional funding to ensure that such 
     education and training can be provided to allied health 
     students so that the United States health care industry with 
     have a supply of allied health professionals needed to 
     support the health care system of the United States in this 
     decade and beyond.

     SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.

       Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                 ``PART G--ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

     ``SEC. 799C. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this part:
       ``(1) Allied health education program.--The term `allied 
     health education program' means any postsecondary educational 
     program offered by an institution accredited by an agency or 
     commission recognized by the Department of Education, or 
     leading to a State certificate or license or any other 
     educational program approved by the Secretary. Such term 
     includes colleges, universities, or schools of allied health 
     and equivalent entities that include programs leading to a 
     certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level 
     degree in an allied health profession.
       ``(2) Allied health professions.--The term `allied health 
     professions' includes professions in the following areas at 
     the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level:
       ``(A) Dental hygiene.
       ``(B) Dietetics or nutrition.
       ``(C) Emergency medical services.
       ``(D) Health information management.
       ``(E) Clinical laboratory sciences and medical technology.
       ``(F) Cytotechnology.
       ``(G) Occupational therapy.
       ``(H) Physical therapy.
       ``(I) Radiologic technology.
       ``(J) Nuclear medical technology.
       ``(K) Rehabilitation counseling.
       ``(L) Respiratory therapy.
       ``(M) Speech-language pathology and audiology.
       ``(N) Any other profession determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(3) Health care facility.--The term `health care 
     facility' means an outpatient health care facility, hospital, 
     nursing home, home health care agency, hospice, federally 
     qualified health center, nurse managed health center, rural 
     health clinic, public health clinic, or any similar health 
     care facility or practice that employs allied health 
     professionals.

     ``SEC. 799C-1. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

       ``The Secretary shall develop and issue public service 
     announcements that shall--
       ``(1) advertise and promote the allied health professions;
       ``(2) highlight the advantages and rewards of the allied 
     health professions; and
       ``(3) encourage individuals from diverse communities and 
     backgrounds to enter the allied health professions.

     ``SEC. 799C-2. STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     designated eligible entities to support State and local 
     advertising campaigns that are conducted through appropriate 
     media outlets (as determined by the Secretary) to--
       ``(1) promote the allied health professions;
       ``(2) highlight the advantages and rewards of the allied 
     health professions; and
       ``(3) encourage individuals from disadvantaged communities 
     and backgrounds to enter the allied health professions.
       ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under subsection (a), an entity shall--
       ``(1) be a professional, national, or State allied health 
     association, State health care provider, or association of 
     one or more health care facilities, allied health education 
     programs, or other entities that provides similar services or 
     serves a like function; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.

     ``SEC. 799C-3. ALLIED HEALTH RECRUITMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants 
     to eligible entities to increase allied health professions 
     education opportunities.
       ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under subsection (a), an entity shall--
       ``(1) be a professional, national, or State allied health 
     association, State health care provider, or association of 
     one or more health care facilities, allied health education 
     programs, or other eligible entities that provides similar 
     services or serves a like function; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--An entity shall use amounts received 
     under a grant under subsection (a) to--
       ``(1) support outreach programs at elementary and secondary 
     schools that inform guidance counselors and students of 
     education opportunities regarding the allied health 
     professions;
       ``(2) carry out special projects to increase allied health 
     education opportunities for individuals who are from 
     disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic 
     minorities that are underrepresented among the allied health 
     professions) by providing student scholarships or stipends, 
     pre-entry preparation, and retention activities;
       ``(3) provide assistance to public and nonprofit private 
     educational institutions to support remedial education 
     programs for allied health students who require assistance 
     with math, science, English, and medical terminology;
       ``(4) meet the costs of child care and transportation for 
     individuals who are taking part in an allied health education 
     program at any level; and
       ``(5) support community-based partnerships seeking to 
     recruit allied health professionals in rural communities and 
     medically underserved urban communities, and other 
     communities experiencing an allied health professions 
     shortage.

     ``SEC. 799C-4. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CAREER ACADEMIES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities to assist such entities in collaborating to 
     carry out programs that form education pipelines to 
     facilitate the entry of students of secondary educational 
     institutions, especially underrepresented racial and ethnic 
     minorities, into careers in the allied health professions.
       ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under subsection (a), an entity shall--
       ``(1) be an institution that offers allied health education 
     programs, a health care facility, or a secondary educational 
     institution; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.

     ``SEC. 799C-5. ALLIED HEALTH EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND 
                   RETENTION GRANTS.

       ``(a) Education Priority Areas.--The Secretary may award 
     grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities to--
       ``(1) expand the enrollment of individuals in allied health 
     education programs, especially the enrollment of 
     underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students; and
       ``(2) provide education through new technologies and 
     methods, including distance-learning methodologies.
       ``(b) Practice Priority Areas.--The Secretary may award 
     grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities to--
       ``(1) establish or expand allied health practice 
     arrangements in noninstitutional settings to demonstrate 
     methods to improve access to primary health care in rural 
     areas and other medically underserved communities;
       ``(2) provide care for underserved populations and other 
     high-risk groups such as the elderly, individuals with HIV/
     AIDS, substance abusers, the homeless, and victims of 
     domestic violence;
       ``(3) provide managed care, information management, quality 
     improvement, and other skills needed to practice in existing 
     and emerging organized health care systems; or
       ``(4) develop generational and cultural competencies among 
     allied health professionals.
       ``(c) Retention Priority Areas.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to and 
     enter into contracts with eligible entities to enhance the 
     allied health professions workforce by initiating and 
     maintaining allied health retention programs described in 
     paragraph (2) or (3).
       ``(2) Grants for career ladder programs.--The Secretary may 
     award grants to and enter into contracts with eligible 
     entities for programs--
       ``(A) to promote career advancement for allied health 
     personnel in a variety of training settings, cross training 
     or specialty training among diverse population groups, and 
     the advancement of individuals; and
       ``(B) to assist individuals in obtaining the education and 
     training required to enter the allied health professions and 
     advance within such professions, such as by providing career 
     counseling and mentoring.
       ``(3) Enhancing patient care delivery systems.--
       ``(A) Grants.--The Secretary may award grants to eligible 
     entities to improve the retention of allied health 
     professionals and to enhance patient care that is directly 
     related to allied health activities by enhancing 
     collaboration and communication among allied health 
     professionals and other health care professionals, and by 
     promoting allied health involvement in the organizational and 
     clinical decision-making processes of a health care facility.
       ``(B) Preference.--In making awards of grants under this 
     paragraph, the Secretary shall give preferences to applicants 
     that have not previously received an award under this 
     paragraph and to applicants from rural, underserved areas.
       ``(C) Continuation of an award.--The Secretary shall make 
     continuation of any award under this paragraph beyond the 
     second year of such award contingent on the recipient of such 
     award having demonstrated to the Secretary measurable and 
     substantive improvement in allied health personnel retention 
     or patient care.
       ``(d) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under this section, an entity shall--
       ``(1) be a health care facility, or any partnership or 
     coalition containing a health care

[[Page S2029]]

     facility or allied health education program; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.

     ``SEC. 799C-6. DEVELOPING MODELS AND BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out 
     demonstration programs using models and best practices in 
     allied health for the purpose of developing innovative 
     strategies or approaches for the retention of allied health 
     professionals.
       ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under this section, an entity shall--
       ``(1) be a health care facility, or any partnership or 
     coalition containing a health care facility or allied health 
     education program; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Distribution of Grants.--In awarding grants under 
     this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grantees 
     represent a variety of geographic regions and a range of 
     different types and sizes of facilities, including facilities 
     located in rural, urban, and suburban areas.
       ``(d) Use of Funds.--An entity shall use amounts received 
     under a grant under this section to carry out demonstration 
     programs of models and best practices in allied health for 
     the purpose of--
       ``(1) promoting retention and satisfaction of allied health 
     professionals;
       ``(2) promoting opportunities for allied health 
     professionals to pursue education, career advancement, and 
     organizational recognition; and
       ``(3) developing continuing education programs that 
     instruct allied health professionals in how to use emerging 
     medical technologies and how to address current and future 
     health care needs.
       ``(e) Area Health Education Centers.--The Secretary shall 
     award grants to area health education centers to enable such 
     centers to enter into contracts with allied health education 
     programs to expand the operation of area health education 
     centers to work in communities to develop models of 
     excellence for allied health professionals or to expand any 
     junior and senior high school mentoring programs to include 
     an allied health professions mentoring program.

     ``SEC. 799C-7. ALLIED HEALTH FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration, may enter into an agreement with any 
     institution offering an eligible allied health education 
     program for the establishment and operation of a faculty loan 
     fund in accordance with this section (referred to in this 
     section as the `loan fund'), to increase the number of 
     qualified allied health faculty.
       ``(b) Agreements.--Each agreement entered into under this 
     section shall--
       ``(1) provide for the establishment of a loan fund by the 
     institution offering the allied health education program 
     involved;
       ``(2) provide for deposit in the loan fund of--
       ``(A) the Federal capital contributions to the fund;
       ``(B) an amount provided by the institution involved which 
     shall be equal to not less than one-ninth of the amount of 
     the Federal capital contribution under subparagraph (A);
       ``(C) any collections of principal and interest on loans 
     made from the fund; and
       ``(D) any other earnings of the fund;
       ``(3) provide that the loan fund will be used only for the 
     provision of loans to faculty of the allied health education 
     program in accordance with subsection (c) and for the costs 
     of the collection of such loans and the interest thereon;
       ``(4) provide that loans may be made from such fund only to 
     faculty who are pursuing a full-time course of study or, at 
     the discretion of the Secretary, a part-time course of study 
     in an advanced degree program; and
       ``(5) contain such other provisions determined appropriate 
     by the Secretary to protect the financial interests of the 
     United States.
       ``(c) Loan Provisions.--Loans from any faculty loan fund 
     established pursuant to an agreement under this section shall 
     be made to an individual on such terms and conditions as the 
     allied health education program may determine, except that--
       ``(1) such terms and conditions are subject to any 
     conditions, limitations, and requirements prescribed by the 
     Secretary;
       ``(2) in the case of any individual, the total of the loans 
     for any academic year made by an allied health education 
     program from loan funds established pursuant to agreements 
     under this section may not exceed $30,000, plus any amount 
     determined by the Secretary on an annual basis to reflect 
     inflation;
       ``(3) upon completion by the individual of each of the 
     first, second, and third year of full-time employment, as 
     required under the loan agreement, as a faculty member in an 
     allied health education program, the program shall cancel 20 
     percent of the principal and interest due on the amount of 
     the unpaid portion of the loan on the first day of such 
     employment;
       ``(4) upon completion by the individual of the fourth year 
     of full-time employment, as required under the loan 
     agreement, as a faculty member in an allied health education 
     program, the program shall cancel 25 percent of the principal 
     and interest due on the amount of the unpaid portion of the 
     loan on the first day of such employment;
       ``(5) the loan may be used to pay the cost of tuition, 
     fees, books, laboratory expenses, and other reasonable 
     education expenses;
       ``(6) the loan shall be repayable in equal or graduated 
     periodic installments (with the right of the borrower to 
     accelerate repayment) over the 10-year period that begins 9 
     months after the individual ceases to pursue a course of 
     study in an allied health education program; and
       ``(7) such loan shall--
       ``(A) beginning on the date that is 3 months after the 
     individual ceases to pursue a course of study in an allied 
     health education program, bear interest on the unpaid balance 
     of the loan at the rate of 3 percent per year; or
       ``(B) subject to subsection (e), if the allied health 
     education program determines that the individual will not 
     complete such course of study or serve as a faculty member as 
     required under the loan agreement under this subsection, bear 
     interest on the unpaid balance of the loan at the prevailing 
     market rate.
       ``(d) Payment of Proportionate Share.--Where all or any 
     part of a loan (including interest thereon) is canceled under 
     this section, the Secretary shall pay to the allied health 
     education program involved an amount equal to the program's 
     proportionate share of the canceled portion, as determined by 
     the Secretary.
       ``(e) Review by Secretary.--At the request of the 
     individual involved, the Secretary may review any 
     determination by an allied health education program under 
     this section.

     ``SEC. 799C-8. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR SERVICE IN RURAL AND 
                   OTHER MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     scholarship program (referred to in this section as the 
     `program') to provide scholarships to individuals seeking 
     allied health education who agree to provide service in rural 
     and other medically underserved areas with allied health 
     personnel shortages.
       ``(b) Preference.--In awarding scholarships under this 
     section, the Secretary shall give preference to--
       ``(1) applicants who demonstrate the greatest financial 
     need;
       ``(2) applicants who agree to serve in health care 
     facilities experiencing allied health shortages in rural and 
     other medically underserved areas;
       ``(3) applicants who are currently working in a health care 
     facility who agree to serve the period of obligated service 
     at such facility;
       ``(4) minority applicants; and
       ``(5) applicants with an interest in a practice area of 
     allied health that has unmet needs.
       ``(c) Program Requirements.--
       ``(1) Contracts.--Under the program, the Secretary shall 
     enter into contracts with eligible individuals under which 
     such individuals agree to serve as allied health 
     professionals for a period of not less than 2 years at a 
     health care facility with a critical shortage of allied 
     health professionals in consideration of the Federal 
     Government agreeing to provide to the individuals 
     scholarships for attendance in an allied health education 
     program.
       ``(2) Eligible individuals.--In this subsection, the term 
     `eligible individual' means an individual who is enrolled or 
     accepted for enrollment as a full-time or part-time student 
     in an allied health education program.
       ``(3) Service requirement.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may not enter into a 
     contract with an eligible individual under this section 
     unless the individual agrees to serve as an allied health 
     professional at a health care facility with a critical 
     shortage of allied health professionals for a period of full-
     time service of not less than 2 years, or for a period of 
     part-time service in accordance with subparagraph (B).
       ``(B) Part-time service.--An individual may complete the 
     period of service described in subparagraph (A) on a part-
     time basis if the individual has a written agreement that--
       ``(i) is entered into by the facility and the individual 
     and is approved by the Secretary; and
       ``(ii) provides that the period of obligated service will 
     be extended so that the aggregate amount of service performed 
     will equal the amount of service that would be performed 
     through a period of full-time service of not less than 2 
     years.
       ``(d) Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this part, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report describing the program 
     carried out under this section, including statements 
     regarding--
       ``(1) the number of enrollees by specialty or discipline, 
     scholarships, and grant recipients;
       ``(2) the number of graduates;
       ``(3) the amount of scholarship payments made;
       ``(4) which educational institution the recipients 
     attended;
       ``(5) the number and placement location of the scholarship 
     recipients at health care facilities with a critical shortage 
     of allied health professionals;

[[Page S2030]]

       ``(6) the default rate and actions required;
       ``(7) the amount of outstanding default funds of the 
     scholarship program;
       ``(8) to the extent that it can be determined, the reason 
     for the default;
       ``(9) the demographics of the individuals participating in 
     the scholarship program; and
       ``(10) an evaluation of the overall costs and benefits of 
     the program.

     ``SEC. 799C-9. GRANTS FOR CLINICAL EDUCATION, INTERNSHIP, AND 
                   RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants 
     to eligible entities to develop clinical education, 
     internship, and residency programs that encourage mentoring 
     and the development of specialties.
       ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible for a grant under 
     this section an entity shall--
       ``(1) be a partnership of an allied health education 
     program and a health care facility; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use amounts 
     received under a grant under this section to--
       ``(1) develop clinical education, internship, and residency 
     programs and curriculum and training programs for graduates 
     of an allied health education program;
       ``(2) provide support for faculty and mentors; and
       ``(3) provide support for allied health professionals 
     participating in clinical education, internship, and 
     residency programs on both a full-time and part-time basis.

     ``SEC. 799C-10. GRANTS FOR PARTNERSHIPS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities to enable such entities to form 
     partnerships to carry out the activities described in this 
     section.
       ``(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under this section, and entity shall--
       ``(1) be a partnership between an allied health education 
     program and a health care facility; and
       ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use amounts 
     received under a grant under this section to--
       ``(1) provide employees of the health care facility that is 
     a member of the partnership involved advanced training and 
     education in a allied health education program;
       ``(2) establish or expand allied health practice 
     arrangements in non-institutional settings to demonstrate 
     methods to improve access to health care in rural and other 
     medically underserved communities;
       ``(3) purchase distance learning technology to extend 
     general education and training programs to rural areas, and 
     to extend specialty education and training programs to all 
     areas; and
       ``(4) establish or expand mentoring, clinical education, 
     and internship programs for training in specialty care areas.

     ``SEC. 799C-11. ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING FOR 
                   DIVERSITY.

       ``The Secretary, acting in conjunction with allied health 
     professional associations, shall develop a system for 
     collecting and analyzing allied health workforce data 
     gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration, other entities within 
     the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
     Services, the Department of Defense, allied health 
     professional associations, and regional centers for health 
     workforce studies to determine educational pipeline and 
     practitioner shortages, and project future needs for such a 
     workforce.

     ``SEC. 799C-12. ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING FOR 
                   DIVERSITY.

       ``The Secretary shall include schools of allied health 
     among the health professions schools that are eligible to 
     receive grants under this part for the purpose of assisting 
     such schools in supporting Centers of Excellence in health 
     professions education for under-represented minority 
     individuals.

     ``SEC. 799C-13. REPORTS BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

       ``Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of 
     this part, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     conduct an evaluation of whether the programs carried out 
     under this part have demonstrably increased the number of 
     applicants to allied health education programs and prepare 
     and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     concerning the results of such evaluation.

     ``SEC. 799C-14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     part, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
     2008 through 2013.''.
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