S. 4110 — EMPOWER for Health Act

This section reauthorizes multiple health professions workforce development programs under Title VII of the Public Health Service Act through FY2030 (from FY2025) and increases authorized or appropriated funding levels for FY2026 through FY2030 as follows: (1) Centers of Excellence grants (sec. 736), to $28,422,000 (from $23,711,000) annually; (2) under sec. 740—(A) subsection (a), to $55,014,000 (from $51,470,000); (B) subsection (b), to $2,310,000 (from $1,190,000); (C) subsection (c), to $16,000,000 (from $15,000,000); and (D) extends authority through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2025); (3) sec. 747(c)(1), to $49,924,000 (from $48,924,000); (4) sec. 748(f), to $42,673,000 (from $28,531,000); (5) sec. 751(j)(1), to $47,000,000 (from $41,250,000); (6) sec. 753(d), to $48,245,000 (from $40,737,000); (7) sec. 761(e)(1)(A), through FY2030 (from FY2025); (8) sec. 762(i), through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2023); (9) sec. 770(a), to $18,000,000 (from $17,000,000); (10) sec. 775(e), $5,000,000 each for subsections (c)(1)(A) and (c)(1)(B) (previously, such sums as necessary); and (11) sec. 776(i), through FY2030 (from FY2023 through FY2025). (As background, Title VII programs support training for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, public health workers, and faculty to address health professional shortages, including in primary care, mental and behavioral health, maternal-child health, and care for underserved populations.)

This section revises the Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program by (1) broadening the service agreement in subsection (b)(1) to include providing pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental and behavioral health care to underserved children or in a shortage area (previously limited to shortage areas with sufficient pediatric population, as determined by the Secretary); (2) replacing references to "employment" with "service" in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B); (3) restructuring subsection (c) to define "qualified health professional" and prioritize contracts for service in medically underserved pediatric populations (including children enrolled in Medicaid under title XIX of the Social Security Act); and (4) adding subsection (e) to establish full-time service requirements consistent with practice standards (including research and teaching obligations) for completed-training professionals and accrediting body standards for those in residencies or fellowships. (As background, the program repays up to $35,000 per year for up to three years on eligible education loans of qualified pediatric health professionals who commit to at least two years of full-time service. Thus, the changes expand eligible service locations and activities.)

This section revises the Area Health Education Centers program, which supports recruitment, training, and retention of health professionals for underserved populations. Specifically, the section (1) requires centers to conduct activities related to pre-collegiate students (from high school students) as one of the program's required activities under subsection (c)(1)(G); and (2) limits the maximum duration of infrastructure development awards to 2 award cycles (from 12 years) under subsection (h)(1)(A) and point-of-service maintenance and enhancement awards to 1 award cycle (from 6 years) under subsection (h)(1)(B).