Physician training programs with respect to rare diseases

Subpart II of part C of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293m et seq.), as amended by section 3016, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 749D. Physician training programs with respect to rare diseases (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to accredited schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and nursing, and other health professional training programs for the training of health care professionals— (1) to improve the provision of care to individuals who have rare diseases or conditions (as defined in section 526 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act); (2) to improve the provision of care to such individuals via telehealth; and (3) to conduct research relevant to rare diseases and conditions. (b) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), 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. (c) Reporting requirements (1) Periodic reports Each entity awarded a grant under this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report on the status of activities conducted using the grant, including a description of the impact of such training on patient outcomes, as applicable. (2) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the activities conducted using grants under subsection (a) and any best practices identified and disseminated under subsection (d). (d) Best practices The Secretary may identify and disseminate best practices for the training described in subsection (a). 749E. Health professionals education on rare diseases and conditions in minority populations (a) In general The Secretary may award grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to accredited schools of medicine and nursing, and other health professional training programs, for the development and implementation of programs to provide education and training to health care professionals on the causes and effects of rare diseases and conditions in minority populations. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term minority has the meaning given such term in section 464z–3. (2) The term rare disease or condition has the meaning given such term in section 526 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 749F. Mentoring program for health care professionals seeking to work in rare diseases and conditions The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public and nonprofit private entities (including Tribal entities) for the establishment of a mentoring program for health care professionals seeking to treat patients with rare diseases and conditions. 749G. Scholarship and loan repayment program for physicians and genetic counselors serving populations with rare diseases and conditions (a) Loan repayment program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program of entering into contracts with eligible individuals under which the individuals agree to serve as health care professionals serving populations with rare diseases or conditions in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to pay, for each year of such service, up to $50,000 (plus an amount determined by the Secretary on an annual basis to reflect inflation) of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such individuals. (2) Determination of amount In making a determination of the amount to pay for a year of such service by an individual, the Secretary shall consider the extent to which each such determination— (A) affects the ability of the Secretary to maximize the number of contracts that can be provided under the program from the amounts appropriated for such contracts; (B) provides an incentive to serve as health care professionals serving populations with rare diseases or conditions; and (C) provides an incentive with respect to the health professional involved to remain serving populations with rare diseases or conditions, including after the completion of the period of obligated service under the program. (3) 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 a school of medicine. (4) Applicability of certain provisions With respect to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established in subpart III of part D of title III of this Act, the provisions of such subpart shall, except as inconsistent with paragraph (1), apply to the program established in this section in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. (b) Scholarship program (1) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program of entering into contracts with eligible individuals under which each such individual agrees to serve, for a period of not less than 5 years, as a health care professional primarily serving populations with rare diseases or conditions, in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to provide to the individual a scholarship for attendance at a school of medicine. (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 a school of medicine. (3) Applicability of certain provisions The provisions of subpart III of part D of title III shall, except as inconsistent with this section, apply to the program established in paragraph (1) in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program established in such subpart..