Tribal Healthcare Careers Act
The Tribal Healthcare Careers Act would modify the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program under the Social Security Act to advance health workforce development in Indian communities. The bill creates a dedicated 15 percent set-aside of HPOG funds specifically for Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). It also requires the Secretary to guarantee that at least 10 HPOG grants are awarded to eligible Indian entities, so long as a sufficient number of applications meeting the program’s requirements are received. The amendments would take effect October 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to ensure that tribal institutions and Indian populations receive a predictable share of HPOG resources to support training and job opportunities in health professions.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a set-aside: 15 percent of HPOG funds must be reserved for grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities each fiscal year.
- 2Guarantee of grants for Indian entities: The Secretary must award at least 10 HPOG grants to eligible Indian entities (tribes, tribal organizations, or TCUs) if there are a sufficient number of eligible applications that meet the program’s requirements.
- 3Applicability to HPOG: The set-aside and guaranteed grants apply specifically to the Health Profession Opportunity Grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act.
- 4Effective date: The changes take effect on October 1, 2025.
- 5Eligibility reference: The guaranteed grants refer to entities that are Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or Tribal Colleges/Universities and that meet the program’s eligibility requirements described in the relevant subparagraphs of the HPOG statute.