
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC293c]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
 
               SUBCHAPTER V--HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION
 
            Part B--Health Professions Training for Diversity
 
Sec. 293c. Educational assistance in the health professions 
        regarding individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds
        

(a) In general

                      (1) Authority for grants

        For the purpose of assisting individuals from disadvantaged 
    backgrounds, as determined in accordance with criteria prescribed by 
    the Secretary, to undertake education to enter a health profession, 
    the Secretary may make grants to and enter into contracts with 
    schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, 
    veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, 
    chiropractic, and podiatric medicine, public and nonprofit private 
    schools that offer graduate programs in behavioral and mental 
    health, programs for the training of physician assistants, and other 
    public or private nonprofit health or educational entities to assist 
    in meeting the costs described in paragraph (2).

                     (2) Authorized expenditures

        A grant or contract under paragraph (1) may be used by the 
    entity to meet the cost of--
            (A) identifying, recruiting, and selecting individuals from 
        disadvantaged backgrounds, as so determined, for education and 
        training in a health profession;
            (B) facilitating the entry of such individuals into such a 
        school;
            (C) providing counseling, mentoring, or other services 
        designed to assist such individuals to complete successfully 
        their education at such a school;
            (D) providing, for a period prior to the entry of such 
        individuals into the regular course of education of such a 
        school, preliminary education and health research training 
        designed to assist them to complete successfully such regular 
        course of education at such a school, or referring such 
        individuals to institutions providing such preliminary 
        education;
            (E) publicizing existing sources of financial aid available 
        to students in the education program of such a school or who are 
        undertaking training necessary to qualify them to enroll in such 
        a program;
            (F) paying such scholarships as the Secretary may determine 
        for such individuals for any period of health professions 
        education at a health professions school;
            (G) paying such stipends as the Secretary may approve for 
        such individuals for any period of education in student-
        enhancement programs (other than regular courses), except that 
        such a stipend may not be provided to an individual for more 
        than 12 months, and such a stipend shall be in an amount 
        determined appropriate by the Secretary (notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law regarding the amount of stipends);
            (H) carrying out programs under which such individuals gain 
        experience regarding a career in a field of primary health care 
        through working at facilities of public or private nonprofit 
        community-based providers of primary health services; and
            (I) conducting activities to develop a larger and more 
        competitive applicant pool through partnerships with 
        institutions of higher education, school districts, and other 
        community-based entities.

                           (3) Definition

        In this section, the term ``regular course of education of such 
    a school'' as used in subparagraph (D) includes a graduate program 
    in behavioral or mental health.

(b) Requirements for awards

    In making awards to eligible entities under subsection (a)(1) of 
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to approved 
applications for programs that involve a comprehensive approach by 
several public or nonprofit private health or educational entities to 
establish, enhance and expand educational programs that will result in 
the development of a competitive applicant pool of individuals from 
disadvantaged backgrounds who desire to pursue health professions 
careers. In considering awards for such a comprehensive partnership 
approach, the following shall apply with respect to the entity involved:
        (1) The entity shall have a demonstrated commitment to such 
    approach through formal agreements that have common objectives with 
    institutions of higher education, school districts, and other 
    community-based entities.
        (2) Such formal agreements shall reflect the coordination of 
    educational activities and support services, increased linkages, and 
    the consolidation of resources within a specific geographic area.
        (3) The design of the educational activities involved shall 
    provide for the establishment of a competitive health professions 
    applicant pool of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds by 
    enhancing the total preparation (academic and social) of such 
    individuals to pursue a health professions career.
        (4) The programs or activities under the award shall focus on 
    developing a culturally competent health care workforce that will 
    serve the unserved and underserved populations within the geographic 
    area.

(c) Equitable allocation of financial assistance

    The Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall ensure that services 
and activities under subsection (a) of this section are adequately 
allocated among the various racial and ethnic populations who are from 
disadvantaged backgrounds.

(d) Matching requirements

    The Secretary may require that an entity that applies for a grant or 
contract under subsection (a) of this section, provide non-Federal 
matching funds, as appropriate, to ensure the institutional commitment 
of the entity to the projects funded under the grant or contract. As 
determined by the Secretary, such non-Federal matching funds may be 
provided directly or through donations from public or private entities 
and may be in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, 
equipment, or services.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, Sec. 739, as added Pub. L. 105-392, 
title I, Sec. 101(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3534.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 293c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, 
Sec. 739, as added Pub. L. 102-408, title I, Sec. 102, Oct. 13, 1992, 
106 Stat. 2027, related to centers of excellence in health professions 
education for minority individuals, prior to the general amendment of 
this part by Pub. L. 105-392. See section 293 of this title.
    Another prior section 293c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, 
Sec. 723, as added Sept. 24, 1963, Pub. L. 88-129, Sec. 2(b), 77 Stat. 
168; amended Aug. 16, 1968, Pub. L. 90-490, title I, Sec. 103(a)(1), 
(2), 82 Stat. 773; Nov. 18, 1971, Pub. L. 92-157,title I, 
Sec. 102(c)(5), (f)(2)(C), (j)(1), (5), 85 Stat. 432, 435-437; Oct. 12, 
1976, Pub. L. 94-484, title III, Sec. 305, 90 Stat. 2255; Aug. 13, 1981, 
Pub. L. 97-35, title XXVII, Sec. 2723(f), 95 Stat. 916; Oct. 22, 1985, 
Pub. L. 99-129, title II, Sec. 207(a), 99 Stat. 527, related to recovery 
by United States of grant moneys where facility was no longer owned by a 
public or nonprofit agency or where it ceased to be used for teaching or 
training purposes, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by 
Pub. L. 102-408.
    A prior section 739 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 
294l of this title prior to the general revision of this subchapter by 
Pub. L. 102-408.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 293d of this title.
