42 U.S.C. § 254q — Authorization of appropriations

(a) Authorization of appropriations: Congress is authorized to appropriate the following amounts to carry out this section: (1) $320,461,632 for fiscal year 2010; (2) $414,095,394 for 2011; (3) $535,087,442 for 2012; (4) $691,431,432 for 2013; (5) $893,456,433 for 2014; (6) $1,154,510,336 for 2015; and (7) for 2016 and every year after, the prior year's amount, adjusted using two steps. First, find one plus the average percent increase in health professions education costs during the prior year. Second, find one plus the average percent change in the number of people living in designated shortage areas during the prior year, compared with the year before that. Multiply the prior year's amount by both of those figures to get the new year's amount. (b) Scholarships for new participants: Of the money appropriated for a fiscal year, the Secretary must set aside at least 10 percent to fund contracts for (1) scholarships to people who haven't previously received one, or (2) scholarships or loan repayments under the Loan Repayment Program for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. (c) Scholarships and loan repayments: For certification as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or physician assistant, the Secretary must set aside at least 10 percent of that year's appropriated money, combined across Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program contracts, for people entering the first year of a qualifying course of study, or who are otherwise eligible for loan repayment related to that certification.