S. 3989

119 S3989 IS: Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-04
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3989  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 4, 2026   Mr. Curtis  (for himself and  Mr. King ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions    A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide community-based training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students Act of 2026   or the   Community TEAMS Act of 2026  .
2.
Grants for community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities
(a)
In general
Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
(h)
Grants for community-Based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities
(1)
Grants
The Director may award grants to eligible entities to expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities, including by supporting clinical rotations in health care facilities in such areas and communities, including in outpatient settings, to facilitate long-term, sustainable physician practice in high-need communities.
(2)
Period of grants
A grant under this subsection shall be for a period of 1 to 5 years, as determined by the Director.
(3)
Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be a consortium of the following:
(A)
One or more schools of osteopathic medicine or allopathic medicine.
(B)
One or more of the following:
(i)
A rural health clinic.
(ii)
A Federally qualified health center.
(iii)
A health care facility located in a medically underserved community.
(4)
Applications
An eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity, submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require, including—
(A)
a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided through the grant;
(B)
an explanation of the reasons why Federal assistance is required to carry out the project;
(C)
a description of the manner in which the project funded through the grant will ensure continuous quality improvement in the provision of services by the entity;
(D)
a description of how the populations in the rural area or medically underserved community to be served through the grant will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the activities carried out by the entity;
(E)
a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;
(F)
a description of how the project will be evaluated; and
(G)
such other information as the Director determines to be appropriate.
 .
(b)
Conforming changes
Section 330A of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking  and for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities  and inserting  for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities, and for expanding the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities ;
(2)
in subsection (b), by inserting  In this section:  after
Definitions—  ;
(3)
in subsection (d)(2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  subsections (e), (f), and (g)  and inserting  subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (ii), by striking  and  at the end;
(ii)
in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following:
(iv)
expand the availability of community-based training for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities under subsection (h).
 ;
(4)
in subsection (j), as so redesignated, by striking  subsections (e), (f), and (g)  and inserting  subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) ; and
(5)
in subsection (k), as so redesignated, by striking  2021 through 2025  and inserting  2026 through 2030 .