§296j–1 Demonstration Grants for Family Nurse Practitioner Training Programs

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must set up a training program that hires new family nurse practitioners and gives them one year of paid clinical training to work as primary care providers in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and nurse‑managed health clinics (NMHCs). The training is meant to teach clinical primary care, follow the Institute of Medicine’s model and the needs of vulnerable people, and create a training model that can be copied around the country. The Secretary will give 3‑year grants to eligible FQHCs or NMHCs that apply. Preference goes to sites that can train at least 3 nurse practitioners a year, provide 12 months of full‑time paid work and benefits, place at least one staff nurse practitioner or physician in each of 4 supervised clinics, offer specialty rotations (including prenatal/women’s health, adult and child psychiatry, orthopedics, geriatrics, plus at least 3 other high‑need areas), teach about common high‑risk problems, and work with other safety‑net providers and schools. Trainees must be licensed or eligible as advanced practice nurses and eligible or board‑certified as family nurse practitioners, and show commitment to work in FQHCs or NMHCs; bilingual applicants get preference. National Health Service Corps service start is delayed until 22 days after finishing the program. Grants may be up to $600,000 per year and funds can be carried over. The Secretary may also fund technical assistance and was authorized funds for fiscal years 2011–2014.