§ 294a. Area health education centers

(a) Authority for provision of financial assistance

(1) Assistance for planning, development, and operation of programs

(A) In general

The Secretary shall award grants to and enter into contracts with schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine, and incorporated consortia made up of such schools, or the parent institutions of such schools, for projects for the planning, development and operation of area health education center programs that—

(i) improve the recruitment, distribution, supply, quality and efficiency of personnel providing health services in underserved rural and urban areas and personnel providing health services to populations having demonstrated serious unmet health care needs;

(ii) increase the number of primary care physicians and other primary care providers who provide services in underserved areas through the offering of an educational continuum of health career recruitment through clinical education concerning underserved areas in a comprehensive health workforce strategy;

(iii) carry out recruitment and health career awareness programs to recruit individuals from underserved areas and under-represented populations, including minority and other elementary or secondary students, into the health professions;

(iv) prepare individuals to more effectively provide health services to underserved areas or underserved populations through field placements, preceptorships, the conduct of or support of community-based primary care residency programs, and agreements with community-based organizations such as community health centers, migrant health centers, Indian health centers, public health departments and others;

(v) conduct health professions education and training activities for students of health professions schools and medical residents;

(vi) conduct at least 10 percent of medical student required clinical education at sites remote to the primary teaching facility of the contracting institution; and

(vii) provide information dissemination and educational support to reduce professional isolation, increase retention, enhance the practice environment, and improve health care through the timely dissemination of research findings using relevant resources.

(B) Other eligible entities

With respect to a State in which no area health education center program is in operation, the Secretary may award a grant or contract under subparagraph (A) to a school of nursing.

(i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), the period during which payments may be made under an award under subparagraph (A) may not exceed—

(I) in the case of a project, 12 years or

(II) in the case of a center within a project, 6 years.

(ii) Exception The periods described in clause (i) shall not apply to projects that have completed the initial period of Federal funding under this section and that desire to compete for model awards under paragraph (2)(A).

(2) Assistance for operation of model programs

(A) In general

In the case of any entity described in paragraph (1)(A) that—

(i) has previously received funds under this section;

(ii) is operating an area health education center program; and

(iii) is no longer receiving financial assistance under paragraph (1);

the Secretary may provide financial assistance to such entity to pay the costs of operating and carrying out the requirements of the program as described in paragraph (1).

(B) Matching requirement

With respect to the costs of operating a model program under subparagraph (A), an entity, to be eligible for financial assistance under subparagraph (A), shall make available (directly or through contributions from State, county or municipal governments, or the private sector) recurring non-Federal contributions in cash toward such costs in an amount that is equal to not less than 50 percent of such costs.

The aggregate amount of awards provided under subparagraph (A) to entities in a State for a fiscal year may not exceed the lesser of—

(i) $2,000,000; or

(ii) an amount equal to the product of $250,000 and the aggregate number of area health education centers operated in the State by such entities.

(b) Requirements for centers

(1) General requirement

Each area health education center that receives funds under this section shall encourage the regionalization of health professions schools through the establishment of partnerships with community-based organizations.

(2) Service area

Each area health education center that receives funds under this section shall specifically designate a geographic area or medically underserved population to be served by the center. Such area or population shall be in a location removed from the main location of the teaching facilities of the schools participating in the program with such center.

(3) Other requirements

Each area health education center that receives funds under this section shall—

(A) assess the health personnel needs of the area to be served by the center and assist in the planning and development of training programs to meet such needs;

(B) arrange and support rotations for students and residents in family medicine, general internal medicine or general pediatrics, with at least one center in each program being affiliated with or conducting a rotating osteopathic internship or medical residency training program in family medicine (including geriatrics), general internal medicine (including geriatrics), or general pediatrics in which no fewer than 4 individuals are enrolled in first-year positions;

(C) conduct and participate in interdisciplinary training that involves physicians and other health personnel including, where practicable, public health professionals, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and behavioral and mental health providers; and

(D) have an advisory board, at least 75 percent of the members of which shall be individuals, including both health service providers and consumers, from the area served by the center.

(1) Allocation to center

Not less than 75 percent of the total amount of Federal funds provided to an entity under this section shall be allocated by an area health education center program to the area health education center. Such entity shall enter into an agreement with each center for purposes of specifying the allocation of such 75 percent of funds.

(2) Operating costs

With respect to the operating costs of the area health education center program of an entity receiving funds under this section, the entity shall make available (directly or through contributions from State, county or municipal governments, or the private sector) non-Federal contributions in cash toward such costs in an amount that is equal to not less than 50 percent of such costs, except that the Secretary may grant a waiver for up to 75 percent of the amount of the required non-Federal match in the first 3 years in which an entity receives funds under this section.

U.S. Code

§ 294a. Area health education centers