text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Preventive Medicine and Public 
  Health Training Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) The American Board of Preventive medicine defines 
          preventive medicine as ``that specialty of medical practice 
          which focuses on the health of individuals and defined 
          populations in order to protect, promote and maintain health 
          and well-being and prevent disease, disability and premature 
          death''.
              (2) Specialists in preventive medicines are uniquely 
          trained in both clinical medicine and public health. They have 
          the skills needed to understand and reduce the risks of 
          disease, disability and death in individuals and in population 
          groups.
              (3) Preventive medicine includes both clinical and non-
          clinical aspects. Clinicians see patients on a daily basis and 
          provide services in screening, health counseling, and 
          immunization to diabetics, cardiac patients, and others who can 
          benefit from prevention and lifestyle modification. Non-
          clinical preventive medicine includes health policy, social and 
          behavioral aspects of health and disease, epidemiology, or 
          other areas in which populations, not individual patients, are 
          the primary focus. Many preventive medicine physicians practice 
          both clinical and non-clinical medicine.
              (4) Of the 24 medical specialities recognized by the 
          American Board of Medical Specialties, preventive medicine is 
          the only specialty that requires training in both clinical 
          medicine and public health.
              (5) While preventive medicine doctors are employed in all 
          health sectors, they often serve in lead roles within the 
          public health force, working in State and local health 
          departments, as well as Federal Government agencies, such as 
          the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National 
          Institutes of Health.
              (6) In the workplace, preventive medicine doctors in 
          occupational medicine parallel the general public health system 
          in dealing with illnesses and injuries in workplace populations 
          through worker protection, personal health promotion, hazard 
          control, business continuity and effective medical management.
              (7) There is an extreme shortage of doctors in the public 
          health field. For example, only 23 percent of local health 
          agencies are directed by physicians and 8 percent are directed 
          by physicians who have masters of public health degrees or are 
          fellows in the American College of Preventive Medicine.
              (8) Many of these physicians are nearing retirement, and 
          the average age of public health doctors today is 58 years.
              (9) The Health Resources and Services Administration 
          reports that the demand for public health professionals will 
          grow at twice the rate of all occupations between 2000 and 
          2010.
              (10) In addition, as the body of evidence supporting the 
          effectiveness of clinical and population-based interventions to 
          prevent and control diseases continues to expand, so does the 
          need for specialists trained in preventive medicine.
              (11) The Health Resources and Services Administration 
          reported that in 2000, there were 7,011 preventive medicine 
          specialists. This was a decrease from 7,734 in 1970.
              (12) The number of preventive medicine residency programs 
          has decreased from 90 in 1998-1999 to 76 programs today. Over 
          this same period, the number of preventive medicine residents 
          declined from 420 to 364.
              (13) In 2000, less than 3 percent of all medical school 
          faculty also held masters degrees in public health. An even 
          smaller number had completed preventive medicine training or 
          were board certified in preventive medicine.
              (14) Preventive medicine trained physicians are an 
          essential part of the public health workforce and are critical 
          to the Nation's ability to protect its citizens from biological 
          threats, including avian influenza and emerging threats from 
          bioterrorism.
  
  SEC. 3. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
  254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
                 ``Subpart XI--Preventive Medicine Training
  
  ``SEC. 340H. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING GRANT 
                PROGRAM.
  
      ``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, or 
  enter into contracts with, eligible entities to provide training to 
  graduate medical residents in preventive medicine specialties.
      ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant or contract 
  under subsection (a), an entity shall--
              ``(1) be a school of public health, public health 
          department, school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, public 
          or private hospital, or public or private nonprofit entity;
              ``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
          in such manner, and containing such information as the 
          Secretary may require; and
              ``(3) maintain and adhere to a letter of agreement with a 
          local community health center (if available in the local area 
          involved) that supports practicum training of preventive 
          medicine residents, if practicable.
      ``(c) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant or contract 
  under this section shall be used to--
              ``(1) plan, develop, and operate residency programs for 
          preventive medicine or public health;
              ``(2) provide financial assistance, including tuition and 
          stipends, to resident physicians (MD or DO) who plan to 
          specialize in preventive medicine or public health;
              ``(3) defray the costs associated with the planning, 
          development, and operation of preventive medicine or public 
          health programs, including the development of curriculum to be 
          used in such programs, and the costs of practicum experiences; 
          and
              ``(4) provide for the improvement of academic 
          administrative units.
      ``(d) Duration of Award.--A grant or contract under this section 
  shall be for a term of not to exceed 5 years.
      ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section, $43,000,000 for fiscal year 
  2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal 
  year.''.
target: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award grants to or enter into contracts with certain eligible entities to provide training to graduate medical residents in preventive medicine specialties.
  
  Requires grant funds to be used for: (1) residency programs for preventive medicine or public health; (2) financial assistance to resident physicians who plan to specialize in preventive medicine or public health; (3) preventive medicine or public health program costs, including curriculum development and practicum costs; and (4) the improvement of academic administrative units.
feat_title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants for the training of graduate medical residents in preventive medicine and public health.