42 U.S.C. § 295f — Investment in tomorrow’s pediatric health care workforce

(a) Establishment The Secretary must set up a pediatric specialty loan repayment program. A participant agrees to work full-time for at least 2 years providing pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental and behavioral health care, including substance abuse prevention and treatment services. (b) Program administration The Secretary signs contracts with qualified health professionals. (1) They agree to work in an area that has a shortage of the relevant pediatric subspecialty but has enough pediatric patients to support it, as the Secretary determines. (2) In exchange, the Secretary agrees to pay up to $35,000 a year toward the principal and interest on their undergraduate, graduate, or medical school loans, for up to 3 years, while they (A) train in an accredited pediatric subspecialty, surgical specialty, or child and adolescent mental health fellowship or residency, or (B) work as a pediatric subspecialist, surgical specialist, or child and adolescent mental health professional serving that shortage area. (c) In general (1) Eligible individuals: (A) For pediatric medical and surgical specialists, a "qualified health professional" is a licensed physician who (i) is entering or already in an accredited pediatric subspecialty or surgical specialty residency or fellowship, or (ii) has completed that training, but not before the year this section became law. (B) For child and adolescent mental and behavioral health, a "qualified health professional" is someone who (i) has specialized training or clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health — in fields like psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, substance abuse treatment, marriage and family therapy, or counseling; (ii) is licensed or certified in a state in one of those fields; or (iii) is a mental health professional who completed that specialized training, but not before the year this section became law. (2) Additional eligibility requirements: The Secretary cannot contract with someone unless (A) they agree to work in, or for a provider serving, a health professional shortage area or medically underserved area, or to serve a medically underserved population; (B) they are a United States citizen or permanent legal resident; and (C) if they are in a graduate program, that program is accredited and they have acceptable academic standing, as the Secretary decides. (d) Priority The Secretary favors applicants who (1) work or will work in a school or other pre-kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education setting; (2) know evidence-based methods and are culturally and linguistically competent; and (3) show financial need. (e) Authorization of appropriations Congress may spend whatever amount is necessary each year from 2021 through 2025.