ALLIED HEALTH WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAMS.

SEC. 5205. ALLIED HEALTH WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAMS. (a) [20 U.S.C. 1078–11 note] Purpose.—The purpose of this section is to assure an adequate supply of allied health professionals to eliminate critical allied health workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies or in settings where patients might require health care services, including acute care facilities, ambulatory care facilities, personal residences and other settings, as recognized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services by authorizing an Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Program. (b) Allied Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention Program.—Section 428K of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–11) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: “(18) Allied health professionals.—The individual is employed full-time as an allied health professional— “(A) in a Federal, State, local, or tribal public health agency; or “(B) in a setting where patients might require health care services, including acute care facilities, ambulatory care facilities, personal residences and other settings located in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations, as recognized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.” ; and (2) in subsection (g)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as paragraphs (2) through (10), respectively; and (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)) the following: “(1) Allied health professional.—The term ‘allied health professional’ means an allied health professional as defined in section 799B(5) of the Public Heath Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(5)) who— “(A) has graduated and received an allied health professions degree or certificate from an institution of higher education; and “(B) is employed with a Federal, State, local or tribal public health agency, or in a setting where patients might require health care services, including acute care facilities, ambulatory care facilities, personal residences and other settings located in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations, as recognized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.” .