Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/1336

 1294

PUBLIC LAW 92-585-OCT. 27, 1972

Payments.

37 USC 203 note.

Contract authority.

Obligations.

Ante,

p. 1290.

Liability.

Waiv

[86 STAT.

"(c) Each participant in the Program will be authorized a scholarsliip for each approved academic year of training, not to exceed four years, in an amount prescribed by the Secretary and payable in monthly installments. The scholarship shall not exceed an amount equal to the basic pay and allowances of a commissioned officer on active duty in pay grade 0 - 1 with less than two years of service, plus an amount to cover the reasonable cost of books, supplies, equipment, student medical expenses, and other necessary educational expenses which are not otherwise paid as a part of the basic tuition payment. " (d) The Secretary may contract with an accredited educational institution for the payment of tuition and other education expenses, not otherwise covered under subsection (c) of this section, for persons participating in the Program. If necessary, persons participating in the Program may be reimbursed for the actual cost of tuition and other educational expenses authorized in this subsection, in lieu of a contract with the educational institution. "(e) A person participating in the Program shall be obligated to serve on active duty as a commissioned officer in the Service or as a civilian member of the National Health Service Corps following completion of academic training, for a period of time prescribed by the Secretary which will not be less than one year of service on active duty for each academic year of training received under the Program. At least one-half of the period of service required by the preceding sentence must be spent providing health care and services (1) in an area designated under section 329(b), (2) as a member of the Indian Health Service or the Federal Health Programs Service and in an area (determined under section 329 or otherwise) to have a health manpower shortage, or (3) in connection with any program, designated by the Secretary, for the provision of health care and services in such an area. For persons receiving a degree from a school of medicine, osteopathy, or dentistry, the commencement of a period of obligated service can be deferred for the period of time required to complete internship and residency training. For persons receiving degrees in other health professions the obligated service period will commence upon completion of their academic training. Periods of internship or residency shall not be creditable in satisfying an active duty service obligation under this subsection unless the internship or residency is served in a facility of the Service or other facility of the National Health Service Corps. " (f)(1) If, for any reason, a person fails to complete an active duty service obligation under this section, he shall be liable for the payment of an amount equal to the cost of tuition and other education expenses, and scholarship payments, paid under this section, plus interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate. Any amount which the United States is entitled to recover under this paragraph shall, within the three-year period beginning on the date the United States becomes entitled to recover such amount, be paid to the United States. " (2) When a person undergoing training in the Program is academicallv dismissed or voluntarily terminates academic training, he shall be liable for repayment to the Government for an amount equal to the cost of tuition and other educational expenses paid to or for him from Federal funds plus any scholarship payments which he received under the program. "(3) The Secretary shall by regulation provide for the waiver or suspension of any obligation under paragraph (1) or (^2) applicable to any individual whenever compliance by such individual is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to such individual and if enforcement of such obligation with respect to any individual would be against equity and good conscience.

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