H.R. 2781 would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize grant programs that support education and training for health care workers. In 2019, $280 million was appropriated for those programs, which are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. In total, the legislation would authorize the appropriation of $359 million for those programs for each year between 2020 and 2024. Authorization amounts include:
$258 million for the Training for Diversity programs,
$51 million for grants to programs that enhance the geriatric workforce, and
$50 million for loan repayment assistance for qualified individuals who are entering pediatric specialties.
H.R. 2781 also would create a new grant program to increase workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech language pathology. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $5 million for that program.
In total and based on historical spending for similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $1.5 billion over the 2020-2024 period, assuming appropriation of authorized amounts. The remaining amounts would be spent after 2024.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 550 (health).