No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section amends the Public Health Service Act to (1) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to detail Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers to urban Indian organizations (as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) for work related to department functions; and (2) revise the granting of constructive credit for length of service to certain appointees as discretionary, at the Secretary's discretion after applying new objective criteria (from mandatory). The criteria prioritize appointees serving (i) in rural or remote agencies statutorily required to receive Service personnel, (ii) as specialists in workforce shortage areas, (iii) in areas with significant access-to-care challenges, or (iv) with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations; the criteria must consider federal designations and workforce assessments and be periodically reviewed. (Thus, the changes support staffing for underserved populations, including urban Native American health providers served through competitive grants under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.)