42 U.S.C. § 293k–2
(a)
Support and development of dental training programs—
(1)
In general— The
Secretary may make grants to, or enter into contracts with, a
school of dentistry, public or
nonprofit private
hospital, or a public or private
nonprofit entity which the
Secretary has determined is capable of carrying out such grant or
contract—
(A)
to plan, develop, and operate, or participate in, an approved professional
trainingprogram in the field of general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, or public health dentistry for dental students, residents, practicing dentists, dental hygienists, or other approved primary care dental trainees, that emphasizes
training for general, pediatric, or public health dentistry;
(B)
to provide financial assistance to dental students, residents, practicing dentists, and dental hygiene students who are in need thereof, who are
participants in any such
program, and who plan to work in the practice of general, pediatric, public heath dentistry, or dental hygiene;
(D)
to provide financial assistance in the form of traineeships and
fellowships to dentists who plan to teach or are teaching in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry;
(H)
to provide technical assistance to pediatric
trainingprograms in developing and implementing instruction regarding the oral health status, dental care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all pediatric populations with an emphasis on underserved
children.
(2)
Faculty loan repayment—
(A)
In general— A grant or contract under
subsection (a)(1)(G) may be awarded to a
program of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry described in such subsection to plan, develop, and operate a
loan repayment program under
which—
(i)
individuals agree to serve full-time as faculty members; and
(ii)
the
program of general, pediatric or public health dentistry agrees to pay the principal and interest on the outstanding student loans of the individuals.
(B)
Manner of payments— With respect to the payments described in
subparagraph (A)(ii), upon completion by an individual of each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years of
service, the
program shall pay an amount equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 percent, respectively, of the individual’s student loan balance as calculated based on principal and interest owed at the initiation of the
agreement.
(b)
Eligible entity— For purposes of this subsection, entities eligible for such grants or contracts in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry shall include entities that have
programs in dental or dental hygiene
schools, or approved residency or advanced education
programs in the practice of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
Eligible entities may partner with
schools of public health to permit the education of dental students, residents, and dental hygiene students for a master’s year in public health at a
school of public health.
(c)
Priorities in making awards— With respect to
training provided for under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants or contracts to the following:
(1)
Qualified applicants that propose collaborative
projects between
departments of primary care medicine and
departments of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
(2)
Qualified applicants that have a record of
training the greatest percentage of providers, or that have demonstrated significant improvements in the percentage of providers, who enter and remain in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
(5)
Qualified applicants that conduct teaching
programs targeting vulnerable populations such as older adults,
homeless individuals, victims of abuse or trauma, individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with HIV/AIDS, and in the risk-based clinical disease management of all populations.
(7)
Qualified applicants that have a high rate for placing graduates in practice settings that serve underserved areas or
health disparity populations, or who achieve a significant increase in the rate of placing graduates in such settings.
(8)
Qualified applicants that intend to establish a special populations oral health care education center or
trainingprogram for the didactic and clinical education of dentists, dental health professionals, and dental hygienists who plan to teach oral health care for people with
developmental disabilities, cognitive impairment, complex medical problems, significant physical limitations, and vulnerable elderly.
(d)
Application— An
eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
(e)
Duration of award— The period during which payments are made to an entity from an award of a grant or contract under
subsection (a) shall be 5 years. The provision of such payments shall be subject to annual approval by the
Secretary and subject to the availability of appropriations for the fiscal year involved to make the payments.
(f)
Authorizations of appropriations— For the purpose of carrying out subsections
(a) and
(b), there is authorized to be appropriated $28,531,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
(g)
Carryover funds— An entity that receives an award under this section may carry over
funds from 1 fiscal year to another without obtaining approval from the
Secretary. In no case may any
funds be carried over pursuant to the preceding sentence for more than 3 years.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 748, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5303(2), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 618; amended Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3401(4), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 386.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 748 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 749 and is classified to section 293l of this title.
Another prior section 748 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 293l of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–392.
Another prior section 748 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 294r of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 97–35.
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3401(4)(A), substituted “substance use disorders” for “substance-related disorders”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3401(4)(B), substituted “$28,531,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025” for “$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015”.