Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§254q Authorization of appropriations

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part Part D— - Primary Health Care › Subpart subpart iii— - scholarship program and loan repayment program › § 254q

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The law allows specific sums of money to be taken from the U.S. Treasury to run the program. It lists exact amounts for each fiscal year: 2010 — $320,461,632; 2011 — $414,095,394; 2012 — $535,087,442; 2013 — $691,431,432; 2014 — $893,456,433; 2015 — $1,154,510,336. For 2016 and later years, the money equals the prior year’s amount multiplied by (1 plus the average percent increase in health professions education costs for the prior year) and by (1 plus the average percent change in people living in designated health shortage areas for the prior year). From each year’s money, the Secretary must use at least 10 percent for contracts that fund either scholarships for people who have never received them or scholarships/loan repayments for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Secretary must also use at least a total of 10 percent for scholarships and loan repayments for people starting programs to become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or physician assistants, or for loans tied to those certifications.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §254q

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For the purpose of carrying out this section,11 So in original. Probably should be “subpart,”. there is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the following:
(1)For fiscal year 2010, $320,461,632.
(2)For fiscal year 2011, $414,095,394.
(3)For fiscal year 2012, $535,087,442.
(4)For fiscal year 2013, $691,431,432.
(5)For fiscal year 2014, $893,456,433.
(6)For fiscal year 2015, $1,154,510,336.
(7)For fiscal year 2016, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of—
(A)one plus the average percentage increase in the costs of health professions education during the prior fiscal year; and
(B)one plus the average percentage change in the number of individuals residing in health professions shortage areas designated under section 254f of this title during the prior fiscal year, relative to the number of individuals residing in such areas during the previous fiscal year.
(b)Of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall obligate not less than 10 percent for the purpose of providing contracts for—
(1)scholarships under this subpart to individuals who have not previously received such scholarships; or
(2)scholarships or loan repayments under the Loan Repayment Program under section 254l–1 of this title to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
(c)With respect to certification as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or physician assistant, the Secretary shall, from amounts appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, obligate not less than a total of 10 percent for contracts for both scholarships under the Scholarship Program under section 254l of this title and loan repayments under the Loan Repayment Program under section 254l–1 of this title to individuals who are entering the first year of a course of study or program described in section 254l(b)(1)(B) of this title that leads to such a certification or individuals who are eligible for the loan repayment program as specified in section 254l–1(b) of this title for a loan related to such certification.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 254q, act
July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 338G, formerly title VII, § 756, as added Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title IV, § 408(b)(1), 90 Stat. 2288; renumbered § 338F and amended Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, § 2709(a), (g), 95 Stat. 908, 912; renumbered § 338G, Dec. 1, 1987, Pub. L. 100–177, title II, § 201(2), 101 Stat. 992, authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1978 to 1987, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–177, § 203. A prior section 338H of act
July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 338I by Pub. L. 101–597 and is classified to section 254q–1 of this title.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–148 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) related to authorization of appropriations for the purposes of carrying out this subpart as follows: for fiscal year 2008, $131,500,000; for fiscal year 2009, $143,335,000; for fiscal year 2010, $156,235,150; for fiscal year 2011, $170,296,310; and for fiscal year 2012, $185,622,980. 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–355 substituted “appropriated—” for “appropriated $146,250,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.” and added pars. (1) to (5). 2002—Pub. L. 107–251 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to annual report to Congress, authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 1991 through 2000, and reservation of percentage of appropriated amounts for scholarships for new participants and for first-year study in certain fields. 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–597, § 205(a), substituted “March 1” for “January 20” and “5 fiscal years” for “3 fiscal years” wherever appearing. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–597, § 205(b), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for scholarships and loan repayments under this subpart.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 254q

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73