Sec. 304. Veterans healing veterans medical access and scholarship program
725 words·~3 min read·
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The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Office of Academic Affiliations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide funding for the medical education of a total of 18 eligible veterans. Such funding shall be provided for two veterans enrolled in each covered medical schools in accordance with this section. To be eligible to receive funding for medical education under this section, a veteran shall— have been discharged from the Armed Forces not more than ten years before the date of application for admission to a covered medical school; not be entitled to educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code; apply for admission to a covered medical school for the entering class of 2019; indicate on such application for admission that the veteran would like to be considered for an award of funding under this section; meet the minimum admissions criteria for the covered medical school to which the veteran applies; and enter into an agreement described in subsection (e).
Each covered medical school that opts to participate in the program under this section shall reserve two seats in the entering class of 2019 for eligible veterans who receive funding under such program. Such funding shall be awarded to the two eligible veterans with the highest admissions rankings for such class at such school. Each eligible veteran who receives funding under this section shall receive an amount equal to the actual cost of— tuition at the covered medical school at which the veteran enrolls for four years; books, fees, and technical equipment; fees associated with the National Residency Match Program; two away rotations performed during the fourth year at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility; and a monthly stipend for the four-year period during which the veteran is enrolled in medical school in an amount to be determined by the Secretary.
In the event that two or more eligible veterans do not apply for admission at one of the covered medical schools for the entering class of 2019, the Secretary shall distribute the available funding to eligible veterans who applied for admission at other covered medical schools. Each eligible veteran who accepts funding for medical education under this section shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary that provides that the veteran agrees— to maintain enrollment and attendance in the medical school; while enrolled in such medical school, to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the medical school under regulations prescribed by the Secretary); to complete post-graduate training leading to eligibility for board certification in a speciality applicable to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as determined by the Secretary; after completion of medical school, to obtain a license to practice medicine in a State; and after completion of medical school and post-graduate training, to serve as a full-time clinical practice employee in the Veterans Health Administration for a period of four years.
If an eligible veteran who accepts funding under this section breaches the terms of the agreement described in paragraph (1), the United States shall be entitled to recover damages in an amount equal to the total amount of such funding received by the veteran. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any covered medical school from accepting more than two eligible veterans for the entering class of 2019. Not later than December 31, 2020, and annually thereafter for the subsequent three years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program under this section.
Such report shall include the evaluation of the Secretary of the success of the pilot program, including the number of veterans who received funding under the program who matriculated and an evaluation of the academic progress of such veterans. In this section, the term covered medical school means any of the following. The Teague-Cranston medical schools, consisting of— Texas A&M College of Medicine; Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University; Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University;
Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University; and University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science. Howard University College of Medicine. Meharry Medical College. Morehouse School of Medicine.