June 8, 2001
NHSC Reauthorization Legislation Introduced
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) May 23 introduced legislation (H.R. 1968) to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) for five years. The current authorization for the NHSC expired on Sept. 29, 2000. Senate legislation to reauthorize the NHSC is expected the week of June 11.
Specifically, H.R. 1968 authorizes $194,170,500 for the NHSC in FY 2002 and such sums as necessary in each of the FYs 2003 - 2006. The bill amends the definition of a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) to include all federally qualified health centers that meet certain criteria, eliminates the cost-sharing requirement (which was routinely waived over 95 percent of the time), establishes a demonstration project to allow for part-time service, and excludes payments made under the NHSC loan repayment program from taxation. As drafted, the bill also eliminates the tax liability on NHSC scholarship payments; however, those provisions were included in the tax-cut bill [see Washington Highlights, June 1] signed by the President on June 7.
Information: Jonathan Fishburn, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.
