This bill establishes a student loan deferment and forgiveness program for physicians who provide mental and behavioral health services (including substance abuse prevention and treatment services) to racial and ethnic minority groups and low-income individuals.
To carry out the program, the Department of Health and Human Services must pay the outstanding principal and interest (up to a maximum limit) on specified federal student loans for eligible physicians who work in qualifying employment. While participating in the program, physicians do not need to pay the principal of their loans but must pay any interest that accrues.
To be eligible, physicians must complete a mental or behavioral health professions degree or certificate at a minority-serving institution of higher education. Physicians must also provide mental and behavioral health services for five consecutive years while working either (1) as solo practitioners where at least 30% of patients receive Medicaid and at least 50% of patients are members of racial and ethnic minority groups; or (2) at institutions that accept Medicaid and where at least 50% of patients served by the institution are members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3760 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3760
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the
mental health workforce, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 31, 2023
Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Ms. Strickland, Mrs. Beatty, Ms.
Williams of Georgia, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Ivey,
Mrs. McClellan, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Crockett, Ms.
Sewell, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Brown, Ms.
Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia,
Mr. Carson, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Clyburn, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, and Ms. Kelly of Illinois) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the
mental health workforce, 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. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 742. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a
mental health provider loan deferment and forgiveness program under
which the eligible individual agrees to be employed full-time for a
period of at least 5 years (beginning on the date on which the
individual graduates from medical school) in providing mental and
behavioral health care, including substance abuse prevention and
treatment services--
``(1) as a solo practitioner--
``(A) at least 30 percent of the patients of which
are individuals receiving medical assistance under a
State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act
(or a waiver of such plan); and
``(B) at least 50 percent of the patients of which
are members of a racial and ethnic minority group (as
defined in section 1707); or
``(2) at an institution that accepts patients described in
paragraph (1)(A) and at which at least 50 percent of the
patients served by the institution are members of a racial and
ethnic minority group (as defined in section 1707).
``(b) Program Administration.--Through the program established
under this section, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with
eligible individuals under which--
``(1) such eligible individuals will agree to provide
mental and behavioral health care services as described in
subsection (a);
``(2) the Secretary agrees that periodic installments of
the principal of an eligible loan need not be paid, but
interest shall accrue and be paid, during any period during
which the borrower is employed as described in subsection (a);
and
``(3) the Secretary, through the holder of the loan, will
assume the obligation to repay the lesser of 100 percent or
$200,000 of the total amount of principal and interest of an
eligible loan, that are outstanding as of the day immediately
preceding the first day of the first year of service (as
described in subsection (a)), for an eligible individual, who--
``(A) has been employed as described in subsection
(a) for 5 consecutive years; and
``(B) is not in default on a loan for which the
individual seeks forgiveness.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible individual' means an individual
who--
``(A)(i) has been accepted for enrollment, or be
enrolled, as a student in a minority-serving
institution eligible to receive funding under section
371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in a course of
study or program leading to a mental or behavioral
health professions degree or certificate; or
``(ii) is completing training hours under clinical
supervision for purposes of obtaining such a degree or
certificate; and
``(B) has accepted employment as described in
subsection (a), to commence upon graduation.
``(2) The term `eligible loan' means--
``(A) any loan for education or training for mental
and behavioral health care, including substance abuse
prevention and treatment, employment;
``(B) any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal
Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford
Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan (as such
terms are used in section 455 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965);
``(C) any Federal Perkins Loan under part E of
title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
``(D) any other Federal loan as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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