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H.R. 801House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Expanding Medical Education Act

Sponsored by Jim CostaRep. Jim Costa (D-CA)
Introduced February 4, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC

The Expanding Medical Education Act creates a federal grant program to help colleges and universities establish, improve, or expand schools of medicine or osteopathic medicine, especially in medically underserved or health professional shortage areas. It targets institutions that would bring a new medical school or branch campus to regions lacking one and gives priority to minority‑serving schools. The program aims to increase the number of doctors from disadvantaged backgrounds and improve health care access in underserved communities.

Key Provisions

  • Grants may be awarded to higher‑education institutions or consortia for creating, expanding, or improving a medical or osteopathic school or a branch campus.
  • Priority is given to proposals in areas with no existing school that are medically underserved, health professional shortage areas, or to minority‑serving institutions.
  • Funds can be used to recruit and retain disadvantaged students, develop curricula focused on rural/underserved care, construct facilities, obtain accreditation, hire diverse faculty, modernize infrastructure, and other activities that support the school’s growth.
  • Applicants must submit detailed applications; awardees must file annual reports and the Secretary must submit a comprehensive report to Congress every five years on program outcomes and impacts.
  • The law defines key terms such as “branch campus,” “first‑generation college student,” and references existing definitions for underserved communities and shortage areas.
  • An appropriation of up to $1 billion is authorized to fund the program until fully expended.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

February 5, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 4, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H335)

February 4, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 4, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

February 5, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 4, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 801

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2021

Mr. Costa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To establish a grant program to support schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanding Medical Education Act.

2.

Grants for schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas

Subpart II of part C of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293m et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

749C.

Grants for schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas

(a)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award grants to institutions of higher education (including consortiums of such institutions) for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine.

(b)

Priority

In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any institution of higher education (or consortium of such institutions) that—

(1)

proposes to use the grant for the establishment of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, in an area—

(A)

in which no other such school is based; and

(B)

that is a medically underserved community or a health professional shortage area; or

(2)

is a minority-serving institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(c)

Considerations

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary, to the extent practicable, may ensure equitable distribution of awards among the geographical regions of the United States.

(d)

Use of funds

An institution of higher education (or a consortium of such institutions)—

(1)

shall use grant amounts received under this section to—

(A)

recruit, enroll, and retain students, including individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic groups underrepresented among medical students and health professions), individuals from rural and underserved areas, low-income individuals, and first generation college students, at a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine or branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine; and

(B)

develop, implement, and expand curriculum that emphasizes care for rural and underserved populations, including accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate care and services, at such school or branch campus; and

(2)

may use grant amounts received under this section to—

(A)

plan and construct—

(i)

a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine in an area in which no other such school is based; or

(ii)

a branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine in an area in which no other such school is based;

(B)

plan, develop, and meet criteria for accreditation for a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine or branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine;

(C)

hire faculty, including faculty from racial and ethnic groups who are underrepresented among the medical and other health professions, and other staff to serve at such a school or branch campus;

(D)

support educational programs at such a school or branch campus;

(E)

modernize and expand infrastructure at such a school or branch campus; and

(F)

support other activities that the Secretary determines further the establishment, improvement, or expansion of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine or branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine.

(e)

Application

To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an institution of higher education (or a consortium of such institutions), shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of the institution’s or consortium's planned activities described in subsection (d).

(f)

Reporting

(1)

Reports from entities

Each institution of higher education, or consortium of such institutions, awarded a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary on the activities conducted under such grant, and other information as the Secretary may require.

(2)

Report to Congress

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that provides a summary of the activities and outcomes associated with grants made under this section. Such reports shall include—

(A)

a list of awardees, including their primary geographic location, and location of any school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of school of medicine or osteopathic medicine that was established, improved, or expanded under this program;

(B)

the total number of students (including the number of students from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented among medical students and health professions, low-income students, and first generation college students) who—

(i)

are enrolled at or who have graduated from any school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that was established, improved, or expanded under this program, deidentified and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, sex, geographic region, disability status, and other relevant factors, to the extent such information is available; and

(ii)

who subsequently participate in an accredited internship or medical residency program upon graduation from any school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that was established, improved, or expanded under this program, deidentified and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, sex, geographic region, disability status, medical specialty pursued, and other relevant factors, to the extent such information is available;

(C)

the effects of such program on the health care provider workforce, including any impact on demographic representation disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and sex, and the fields or specialties pursued by students who have graduated from any school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or a branch campus of school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that was established, improved, or expanded under this program;

(D)

the effects of such program on health care access in underserved areas, including medically underserved communities and health professional shortage areas; and

(E)

recommendations for improving the program described in this section, and any other considerations as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(3)

Public availability

The Secretary shall make reports submitted under paragraph (2) publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(g)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Branch campus

(A)

In general

The term branch campus, with respect to a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, means an additional location of such school that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus, at which the school offers at least 50 percent of the program leading to a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy that is offered at the main campus.

(B)

Independence from main campus

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the location of a school described in such subparagraph shall be considered to be independent of the main campus described in such subparagraph if the location—

(i)

is permanent in nature;

(ii)

offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential;

(iii)

has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and

(iv)

has its own budgetary and hiring authority.

(2)

First generation college student

The term first generation college student has the meaning given such term in section 402A(h)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(3)

Health professional shortage area

The term health professional shortage area has the meaning given such term in section 332(a).

(4)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(5)

Medically underserved community

The term medically underserved community has the meaning given such term in section 799B(6).

(h)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.

.