§1616m Matching Grants to Tribes for Scholarship Programs

Summary

The Secretary must give grants to tribes and tribal groups to help train American Indians to work as health professionals in Indian communities. Grant money each year cannot be more than 5% of the funds set aside that year for Indian Health Scholarships. Tribes must apply in the form the Secretary requires. Tribes that get a grant must use it to give scholarships to students in approved health programs. The grant must pay 80% of each scholarship’s cost; the tribe must provide the other 20% from non-Federal money or donations (not from federal funds). Scholarships must be for approved health careers. Each student must sign a written contract that requires them to work in an Indian health program in the same service area for at least the number of years they received the scholarship or for 2 years, whichever is longer (or longer if both agree). Scholarships can pay tuition, reasonable education and living costs, and a monthly stipend up to the amount allowed by law, prorated for part-time study, and cannot exceed the cost needed for the year. Students must keep good grades and meet the training and licensure rules to become a physician, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant. If a student is dismissed for discipline, quits, loses required standing, or refuses payment, they must repay the federal share they received. Other failures to meet the service duty may require repayment under the recovery formula in law. While serving, recipients must not refuse care because of a person’s ability to pay or because they use Medicare or Medicaid, must accept Medicare assignment, and must work with the State Medicaid agency. The Secretary will stop payments for later years unless the tribe followed the rules in the prior year.