Provider Training in Palliative Care Act

The Provider Training in Palliative Care Act would allow participants in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) who have signing agreements under the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program to temporarily defer their obligated service. Specifically, the Secretary of Health and Human Services could grant up to a one-year deferral to pursue training in palliative care. The bill changes the Public Health Service Act by adding a new subsection (j) (to be redesignated as subsection (k)) and then re-numbering subsections accordingly. The goal is to expand access to palliative care training for NHSC participants without requiring immediate service in underserved areas, thereby strengthening the palliative care workforce.