[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2274 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2274
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education
opportunities for physician assistants, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 29, 2021
Ms. Bass (for herself and Mr. Trone) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education
opportunities for physician assistants, 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 ``Physician Assistant Higher Education
Modernization Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE FEDERAL DIRECT SUBSIDIZED
STAFFORD LOANS TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND OTHER GRADUATE
HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 455(a)(3) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(3)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B)
and inserting the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply
to--
``(i) an individual enrolled in course work
specified in paragraph (3)(B) or (4)(B) of
484(b); or
``(ii) a graduate student in a--
``(I) physician assistant education
program (as defined in section 799B of
the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 295p)); or
``(II) any other health professions
program, as determined by the
Secretary.''.
(b) Inapplicability of Title IV Negotiated Rulemaking and Master
Calendar Exception.--Sections 482(c) and 492 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089(c), 1098a) shall not apply to the
amendments made by this section, or to any regulations promulgated
under those amendments.
SEC. 3. MAKING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES WHEN
SERVING AS PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS OR FACULTY MEMBERS.
(a) In General.--Section 428K of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1078-11) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``(19) Physician assistants.--The individual is a physician
assistant employed full-time--
``(A) as a physician assistant in a clinical
setting providing primary care services; or
``(B) as a member of the physician assistant
faculty at a physician assistant education program (as
defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).'';
(2) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
``(11) Physician assistant.--The term `physician assistant'
means an individual who--
``(A) graduated from a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p));
``(B) is certified as a physician assistant by the
National Commission on the Certification of Physician
Assistants or any successor organization; and
``(C) either--
``(i) holds a valid and unrestricted
license to practice medicine as a physician
assistant in the State in which the physician
assistant practices in a clinical setting; or
``(ii) is qualified for licensure in the
State where the individual is employed as a
full-time physician assistant faculty member of
a physician assistant education program (as
defined in section 799B of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''; and
(3) in subsection (h), by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2022''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to employment occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. GRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS AT
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Historically Black Colleges and Universities.--Section 723 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(B) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph
(13); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (11) the
following:
``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
``(A) creating or improving facilities for internet
or other distance education technologies, including
purchase or rental of telecommunications technology
equipment or services; and
``(B) collaborating with other institutions of
higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree
offerings; and''.
(b) Predominantly Black Institutions.--Section 724 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1136b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``physician
assistant studies,'' after ``allied health,'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph
(13); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (11) the
following:
``(12) in the case of a grant for a physician assistant
education program (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p))--
``(A) creating or improving facilities for internet
or other distance education technologies, including
purchase or rental of telecommunications technology
equipment or services; and
``(B) collaborating with other institutions of
higher education to expand postbaccalaureate degree
offerings; and''.
(c) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsections (a)
and (b) of section 725 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1136c) are each amended by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting
``fiscal year 2022''.
SEC. 5. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HISPANIC AMERICANS.
(a) In General.--Section 514 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1102c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Priority for Physician Assistant Education Programs.--The
Secretary shall give preference to an application by an eligible
institution for a grant under this part that demonstrates that the
grant funds awarded under this part will be used to support physician
assistant education programs (as defined in section 799B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''.
(b) Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.--Section
528(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1103g(a)(2))
is amended--
(1) by striking ``$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and'';
and
(2) by inserting ``fiscal year 2022 and'' after ``such sums
as may be necessary for''.
SEC. 6. SUPPORTING STUDENT MATRICULATION AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT RURAL SERVING INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION.
Section 861 of part Q of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161q) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking ``three of the following four'' and
inserting ``four of the following five''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) To improve health workforce distribution in rural
areas by supporting health professions student matriculation or
the development of new health professions programs, including
physician assistant education programs (as defined in section
799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).''; and
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2022''.
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