US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 292h

Office for Health Education Assistance Loan Default Reduction

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish, within the Division of Student Assistance of the Bureau of Health Professions, an office to be known as the Office for Health Education Assistance Loan Default Reduction (in this section referred to as the “Office”).

(b)

Purpose and functions

It shall be the purpose of the Office to achieve a reduction in the number and amounts of defaults on loans guaranteed under this subpart. In carrying out such purpose the Office shall—
(1)
conduct analytical and evaluative studies concerning loans and loan defaults;
(2)
carry out activities designed to reduce loan defaults;
(3)
respond to special circumstances that may exist in the financial lending environment that may lead to loan defaults;
(4)
coordinate with other Federal entities that are involved with student loan programs, including—
(A)
with respect to the Department of Education, in the development of a single student loan application form, a single student loan deferment form, a single disability form, and a central student loan database; and
(B)
with respect to the Department of Justice, in the recovery of payments from health professionals who have defaulted on loans guaranteed under this subpart; and
(5)
provide technical assistance to borrowers, lenders, holders, and institutions concerning deferments and collection activities.
(c)

Additional duties

In conjunction with the report submitted under subsection (b), the Office shall—
(1)
compile, and publish in the Federal Register, a list of the borrowers who are in default under this subpart; and
(2)
send the report and notices of default with respect to these borrowers to relevant Federal agencies and to schools, school associations, professional and specialty associations, State licensing boards, hospitals with which such borrowers may be associated, and any other relevant organizations.
(d)

Allocation of funds for Office

section 292i(a)(2)(B) of this titleIn the case of amounts reserved under for obligation under this subsection, the Secretary may obligate the amounts for the purpose of administering the Office, including 7 full-time equivalent employment positions for such Office. With respect to such purpose, amounts made available under the preceding sentence are in addition to amounts made available to the Health Resources and Services Administration for program management for the fiscal year involved. With respect to such employment positions, the positions are in addition to the number of full-time equivalent employment positions that otherwise is authorized for the Department of Health and Human Services for the fiscal year involved.

July 1, 1944, ch. 373Pub. L. 102–408, title I, § 102106 Stat. 2006Pub. L. 105–392, title I, § 141(b)112 Stat. 3579(, title VII, § 709, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 708Pub. L. 94–484, title II, § 20690 Stat. 2250Pub. L. 95–83, title III, § 307(a)91 Stat. 389Pub. L. 95–623, § 12(a)92 Stat. 3457Pub. L. 96–511, § 4(c)94 Stat. 2826Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, § 271995 Stat. 914Pub. L. 99–129, title II, § 220(b)99 Stat. 543Pub. L. 100–607, title VI102 Stat. 3139Pub. L. 100–690, title II, § 2615(a)102 Stat. 4239Pub. L. 101–93, § 5(m)103 Stat. 613Pub. L. 102–408section 295k of this titleA prior section 292h, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , §§ 616(c)(1), 626, , 3144; , , ; , , , related to health professions data, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by . See .

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 709July 30, 1956, ch. 779, § 270 Stat. 720Pub. L. 88–129, § 2(a)77 Stat. 164Pub. L. 92–157, title I, § 102(k)(2)(C)85 Stat. 437Pub. L. 94–484, title II, § 201(a)90 Stat. 2246Another prior section 292h, , as added , ; amended , , ; , , , provided for issuance of general, administrative, and other regulations for implementation of grants for construction of health research facilities, prior to repeal by , , .

section 292i of this titlePub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, § 2720(a)95 Stat. 915A prior section 709 of act , was classified to prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–3921998—Subsec. (b). inserted “and” at end of par. (4)(B), substituted a period for “; and” at end of par. (5), and struck out par. (6) which read as follows: “prepare and submit a report not later than , and annually, thereafter, to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives concerning—

“(A) the default rates for each—

o“(i) institution described in section 292(1) of this title that is participating in the loan programs under this subpart;

“(ii) lender participating in the loan program under this subpart; and

“(iii) loan holder under this subpart;

section 292f(b) of this title“(B) the total amounts recovered pursuant to during the preceding fiscal year; and

“(C) a plan for improving the extent of such recoveries during the current fiscal year.”