Sec. 301. DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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## SEC. 301 DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ###

(a)Scholarships for Physicians and Dentists Section 7612(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: > > #### “(6) > > > #####

(A)> > Of the scholarships awarded under this subchapter, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 50 scholarships are awarded each year to individuals who are accepted for enrollment or enrolled (as described in section 7602 of this title) in a program of education or training leading to employment as a physician or dentist until such date as the Secretary determines that the staffing shortage of physicians and dentists in the Department is less than 500. > > > ##### “(B) > > After such date, the Secretary shall ensure that of the scholarships awarded under this subchapter, a number of scholarships is awarded each year to individuals referred to in subparagraph

(A)in an amount equal to not less than ten percent of the staffing shortage of physicians and dentists in the Department, as determined by the Secretary. > > > ##### “(C) > > Notwithstanding subsection (c)(1), the agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the Scholarship Program who receives a scholarship pursuant to this paragraph shall provide the following: > > > ###### “(i) > > The Secretary’s agreement to provide the participant with a scholarship under this subchapter for a specified number (from two to four) of school years during which the participant is pursuing a course of education or training leading to employment as a physician or dentist. > > > ###### “(ii) > > The participant’s agreement to serve as a full-time employee in the Veterans Health Administration for a period of time (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the ‘period of obligated service’) of 18 months for each school year or part thereof for which the participant was provided a scholarship under the Scholarship Program. > > > ##### “(D) > > In providing scholarships pursuant to this paragraph, the Secretary may provide a preference for applicants who are veterans. > > > ##### “(E) > > On an annual basis, the Secretary shall provide to appropriate educational institutions informational material about the availability of scholarships under this paragraph.” > . ###

(b)Breach of Agreement Section 7617 of such title is amended— ####

(1)by redesignating paragraphs

(4)and

(5)as paragraphs

(5)and (6), respectively; and ####

(2)by inserting after paragraph

(3)the following new paragraph (4): > > #### “(4) > > In the case of a participant who is enrolled in a program or education or training leading to employment as a physician, the participant fails to successfully complete post-graduate training leading to eligibility for board certification in a specialty.” > . ###

(c)Extension of Program Section 7619 of such title is amended by striking “December 31, 2019” and inserting “December 31, 2033”.