Program for expanding the reproductive health care provider workforce

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: 742. Program for expanding the reproductive health care provider workforce (a) Purpose It is the purpose of this section— (1) to establish and sustain a competitive health professions applicant pool of individuals with disabilities by increasing the total number of individuals with disabilities who pursue a career in sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care and maternal health care; and (2) to develop a culturally and linguistically competent health care workforce providing sexual and reproductive health care that will serve unserved and underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities. (b) Awards To assist individuals with disabilities in undertaking education to enter into the sexual and reproductive health care workforce, the Secretary may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public or private nonprofit health or educational entities, including schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, schools of nursing, and other institutions of higher education, that offer programs, including graduate programs, in obstetrics and gynecology, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, or programs for the training of health care providers to enable such entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d). (c) Application To be eligible to receive an award under subsection (b), an entity described in such subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Use of funds An entity shall use amounts received under an award under subsection (b) to— (1) conduct or support activities to develop a competitive applicant pool, through partnership with public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, health care providers, such as sexual and reproductive health care providers and primary care providers, or other community-based entities, and establish an education pipeline for individuals with disabilities entering the sexual and reproductive health care workforce; (2) establish, strengthen, or expand programs to support the academic performance of individuals with disabilities participating in activities funded under this section, including mentorship programs; (3) identify, recruit, enroll, and retain individuals with disabilities in education and training related to sexual and reproductive health care; (4) improve the capacity of the entity involved to train, recruit, and retain faculty with disabilities including the payment of such stipends and fellowships as the Secretary may determine appropriate; (5) carry out activities to improve the information resources, clinical education, curricula, and competencies of the graduates of the entity involved, as it relates to individuals with disabilities; (6) facilitate faculty and student research on health issues affecting individuals with disabilities, including research on issues relating to the delivery of sexual and reproductive health care to individuals with disabilities; (7) carry out programs, or offer experiences, to train students in providing sexual and reproductive health services to individuals with disabilities at community-based health facilities that provide sexual and reproductive health services; (8) provide stipends to individuals with disabilities participating in activities funded under this section as the Secretary determines appropriate, in amounts as the Secretary determines appropriate, with an assurance that such stipends shall not result in loss of an individual’s Federal or State benefits; or (9) carry out any other activities that the Secretary may require. (e) Preference In awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to applications that have been approved for programs that involve a comprehensive approach through multiple entities described in subsection (b) to establish, enhance, and expand educational programs that will result in the development of a competitive applicant pool of individuals with disabilities who desire to pursue careers in sexual and reproductive health care services. (f) Consideration for awards In awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) consider current enrollment trends and the needs of certain populations, including individuals with disabilities; and (2) align and coordinate with other training programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. (g) Effect on other programs Assistance or stipends provided to an individual under this section shall not be considered when applying asset or resource limitation provisions related to the eligibility of such individual for any benefit, assistance, or service provided under any Federal or State program. (h) Report Not later than 180 days after the end of the award period, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report concerning the activities carried out under this section to increase the representation of individuals with disabilities in the sexual and reproductive health profession and related training programs. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Funds provided to carry out this section shall supplement not supplant funds otherwise made available to carry out this title..