"Expand funding—including loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training curricula, and infrastructure support to improve working conditions— to ensure a strong workforce that will champion prevention and public health activities."
The economic stimulus bill, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes money to improve training for primary care providers and public health practitioners.
The bill's conference report states that $500 million should go to health professions training programs. Of that total, Congress designated that $200 million be available for loan repayments, scholarships and equipment training programs.
This meets the terms of President Barack Obama's promise to expand funding for health care training. The stimulus bill is new spending that is not part of the regular budget process, so that fits the definition of expanded funding. We'll be watching to make sure Obama does not cut funding for health care training later. Based on the stimulus bill, we're rating this Promise Kept.