H.R. 10694: More Nurses in Rural Schools Act

This bill would let certain school nurses qualify for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which helps repay education loans in exchange for service in areas with health care shortages.

What changes the bill makes

• It creates a special rule for nurses working in elementary or secondary schools that are located in a health professional shortage area.
• These school nurses could satisfy the program’s service requirement by agreeing to work for 2 years, or longer if they choose.
• If a nurse works part-time or for less than a full school year, the required service time would be increased so that the nurse still works the same total number of hours as a full-time, full-year nurse.
• The Department of Health and Human Services would have to set up annual certification requirements to verify part-time hours worked.
• Some existing assignment priorities and limitations in the loan repayment program would not apply to these school nurse participants.
• The bill also says that at least 5 percent of the money available each fiscal year for this part of the program must be used to support school nurses.

Who would be affected

The main people affected would be registered nurses working in schools in areas where there are not enough health professionals. School districts and state or local education agencies in those areas could also be affected because the bill may make it easier to recruit and retain nurses.

Relevant Companies

None found