37 U.S.C. § 335 | Special bonus and incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions

(a)

Health Professions Bonus .—

The Secretary concerned may pay a health professions bonus under this section to a person, including an officer in the uniformed services, who is a graduate of an accredited school in a health profession and who—

(1)

accepts a commission or appointment as an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service, or affiliates with a reserve component of a uniformed service, and agrees to serve on active duty in a regular component or in an active status in a reserve component in a health profession;

(2)

accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health profession specialty is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a critically short wartime specialty; or

(3)

agrees to remain on active duty or continue serving in an active status in a reserve component in a health profession.

(b)

Health Professions Incentive Pay .—

The Secretary concerned may pay incentive pay under this section to an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service who—

(1)

section 204 of this title section 206 of this title is entitled to basic pay under or compensation under ; and

(2)

is serving on active duty or in an active status in a designated health profession specialty or skill.

(c)

Board Certification Incentive Pay .—

The Secretary concerned may pay board certification incentive pay under this section to an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service who—

(1)

section 204 of this title section 206 of this title is entitled to basic pay under or compensation under ;

(2)

is board certified in a designated health profession specialty or skill; and

(3)

is serving on active duty or in an active status in such designated health profession specialty or skill.

(d)

Additional Eligibility Criteria .—

The Secretary concerned may impose such additional criteria for the receipt of a bonus or incentive pay under this section as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(e)

Maximum Amount and Method of Payment.—

(1)

Maximum amount .—

The Secretary concerned shall determine the amounts of a bonus or incentive pay to be paid under this section, except that—

(A)

a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) may not exceed $100,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f);

(B)

a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $200,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f);

(C)

a health professions bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (f);

(D)

health professions incentive pay under subsection (b) may be paid monthly and may not exceed, in any 12-month period—

(i)

$200,000 for medical officers and dental officers; and

(ii)

$50,000 for officers in other health professions; and

(E)

board certification incentive pay under subsection (c) may not exceed $15,000 for each 12-month period an officer remains certified in the designated health profession specialty or skill.

(2)

Lump sum or installments .—

A health professions bonus under subsection (a) may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned. Board certification incentive pay under subsection (c) may be paid monthly, in a lump sum at the beginning of the certification period, or in periodic installments during the certification period, as determined by the Secretary concerned.

(3)

Fixing bonus amount .—

Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (f), the total amount of the health professions bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed.

(f)

Written Agreement for Bonus .—

To receive a bonus under this section, an officer determined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary concerned that specifies—

(1)

the amount of the bonus;

(2)

the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (e)(2);

(3)

the period of obligated service;

(4)

whether the service will be performed on active duty or in an active status in a reserve component; and

(5)

the type or conditions of the service.

(g)

Reserve Component Officers .—

section 204 of this title section 206 of this titleAn officer in a reserve component authorized incentive pay under subsection (b) or (c) who is not serving on continuous active duty and is entitled to compensation under or compensation under may be paid a monthly amount of incentive pay that is proportionate to the basic pay or compensation received under this title.

(h)

Relationship to Other Pay and Allowances.—

(1)

Health professions bonus .—

section 332 of this titleA bonus paid to a person or officer under subsection (a) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or officer is entitled, except that a person or officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and for the same period of obligated service.

(2)

Health professions incentive pay .—

section 353 of this titleIncentive pay paid to an officer under subsection (b) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which an officer is entitled, except that an officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and for the same skill and period of service.

(3)

Board certification incentive pay .—

section 353(b) of this titleIncentive pay paid to an officer under subsection (c) shall be in addition to any other pay and allowance to which an officer is entitled, except that an officer may not receive a payment under such subsection and for the same skill and period of service covered by the certification.

(i)

Repayment .—

section 373 of this titleAn officer who receives a bonus or incentive pay under this section and who fails to fulfill the eligibility requirements for the receipt of the bonus or incentive pay or complete the period of service for which the bonus or incentive pay is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (f) in the case of a bonus, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .

(j)

Health Profession Defined .—

In this section, the term “health profession” means the following:

(1)

Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical officer.

(2)

Any health profession performed by officers in the Dental Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a dental officer.

(3)

Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Service Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical service officer or biomedical sciences officer.

(4)

Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Specialist Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a medical specialist.

(5)

Any health profession performed by officers of the Nurse Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a nurse.

(6)

Any health profession performed by officers in the Veterinary Corps of a uniformed service or by officers designated as a veterinary officer.

(7)

Any health profession performed by officers designated as a physician assistant.

(8)

1 See Change of Name note below.

Any health profession performed by officers in the regular or reserve corps  of the Public Health Service.

(k)

Termination of Authority .—

December 31, 2026No agreement may be entered into under this section after .

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–60December 31, 2026December 31, 20252025—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 118–159December 31, 2025December 31, 20242024—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 118–31December 31, 2024December 31, 20232023—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 117–263December 31, 2023December 31, 20222022—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(a)2021—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). , substituted “$100,000” for “$30,000”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(b)Subsec. (e)(1)(B). , substituted “$200,000” for “$100,000”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(c)Subsec. (e)(1)(C). , substituted “$150,000” for “$75,000”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(d)(1)Subsec. (e)(1)(D)(i). , substituted “$200,000” for “$100,000”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(d)(2)Subsec. (e)(1)(D)(ii). substituted “$50,000” for “$15,000”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 612(e)Subsec. (e)(1)(E). , substituted “$15,000” for “$6,000”.

Pub. L. 117–81December 31, 2022December 31, 2021Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 611(d)(4)December 31, 2021December 31, 2020, substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 116–92December 31, 2020December 31, 20192019—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 115–232December 31, 2019December 31, 20182018—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 115–91December 31, 2018December 31, 20172017—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–328December 31, 2017December 31, 20162016—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–92December 31, 2016December 31, 20152015—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–291December 31, 2015December 31, 20142014—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–66December 31, 2014December 31, 20132013—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–239December 31, 2013December 31, 2012 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–81December 31, 2012December 31, 20112011—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–383December 31, 2011December 31, 2010 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–84December 31, 2010December 31, 20092009—Subsec. (k). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 110–4172008—Subsec. (e)(1)(D)(i). substituted “dental officers” for “dental surgeons”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 204(c)(3) of Title 42Reference to Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service deemed to be a reference to the Ready Reserve Corps, see , The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 612(f)Jan. 1, 2021134 Stat. 3674

section 335 of title 37Jan. 1, 2021“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to special bonus and incentive pays payable under , United States Code, pursuant to agreements entered into under that section on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”

, , , provided that:

Targeted Bonus Authority To Increase Direct Accessions

Pub. L. 110–417Oct. 14, 2008122 Stat. 4489

“(1)

Designation of critically short wartime health specialties .—

section 335 of title 37 Public Law 110–181122 Stat. 169 For purposes of , United States Code, as added by section 661 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (; ), the following health professions are designated as a critically short wartime specialty under subsection (a)(2) of such section:

“(A)

Psychologists who have been awarded a diploma as a Diplomate in Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and are fully licensed and such other mental health practitioners as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary.

“(B)

Registered nurses.

“(2)

Special agreement authority .—

section 302c–1 of this title section 335 of title 37Under the authority provided by this section [enacting this note and ], the Secretary concerned may enter into an agreement under subsection (f) of , United States Code, to pay a health professions bonus under such section to a person who accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health profession specialty is specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

“(3)

Secretary concerned defined .—

section 101(5) of title 37In this subsection, the term ‘Secretary concerned’ has the meaning given that term in , United States Code.

“(4)

Effective period .—

September 30, 2010The designations made by this subsection and the authority to enter into an agreement under paragraph (2) of this subsection expire on .”

, [div. A], title VI, § 620(a), , , provided that: