The 1971 Comprehensive Manpower Training Act, Public Law 92-157, was federal legislation designed to balance a growing demand for medical care workers. The law encouraged increased enrollment in medical, dental and similar schools by tying federal funding to the number of students. President Richard Nixon signed it on Nov. 18.
Passed the House and Senate in July 1971
The Comprehensive Manpower Training Act, HR 8629, passed the House by a 343-3 vote on July 1, 1971. It passed the Senate by an 88-0 vote on July 14, 1971.
Amended 1963 Health Professions Education Assistance Act
The law amended the 1963 "Health Professions Education Assistance Act." It authorized federal funding for schools of dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, public health and podiatry. The new law tied federal funding for medical and other schools to student enrollment to encourage more innovation and experimentation in curriculum and instruction. It benefited 275 schools in 1972.
Special Project Grants and Financial Assistance Created
The new law created "special project grants" that allowed schools more flexibility in reforming curriculum, and creating new programs such as alcoholism and drug addiction treatment.
It also created a grant program for financially distressed schools that sought to identify the causes of their financial problems and reform their financial and operating procedures.
Federal Construction Grants Established
The law also authorized direct federal grants for building medical, dental and similar health education schools. It established loan guarantees and interest subsidies aimed at attracting additional private capital. The objective was increasing the number of first-year students able to attend medical, nursing, dental and other schools.
Financial Assistance Enhanced
The law continued loans and scholarships for students in the health professions, but also emphasized increased opportunities for disadvantaged students. It also forgave student loans for dentists, doctors, nurses and other graduates in health care fields if they practiced in remote rural areas and poverty-stricken urban areas deemed "medically under-served."
Education Initiative Awards
The law created "health manpower education initiative awards" to encourage the more efficient supply, distribution and use of graduates from medical, dental, nursing and similar schools. The awards supported more training in ambulatory care, clinical and outpatient settings to supplement students' in-hospital training.
It provided incentives for medical and dental schools to train "paramedical personnel" such as nurse midwives, pediatric nurse practitioners, dental therapists and family health nurses.
Tags: medical dental, federal funding, July 1971, Manpower Training, 1963 Health, 1963 Health Professions
