Ill STAT. 1802 PUBLIC LAW 105-85—NOV. 18, 1997 to payments of benefits for months beginning on or after that date, except that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide, if necessary for administrative implementation, that such amendments shall apply beginning with a later month, not later than the first month beginning more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Subtitle E—Other Matters SEC. 651. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONS. (a) IN GENERAL.— Chapter 109 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "§2173. Education loan repayment program: commissioned officers in specified health professions "(a) AUTHORITY TO REPAY EDUCATION LOANS.— For the purpose of maintaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers of the armed forces on active duty who are qualified in the various health professions, the Secretary of a military department may repay, in the case of a person described in subsection (b), a loan that— "(1) was used by the person to finance education regarding a health profession; and "(2) was obtained from a governmental entity, private financial institution, school, or other authorized entity. "(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS. —TO be eligible to obtain a loan repay- ment under this section, a person must— "(1) satisfy one of the requirements specified in subsection (0; "(2) be fully qualified for, or hold, an appointment as a commissioned officer in one of the health professions; and "(3) sign a written agreement to serve on active duty, or, if on active duty, to remain on active duty for a period in addition to any other incurred active duty obligation. "(c) ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS. —One of the following academic requirements must be satisfied for purposes of determining the eligibility of a person for a loan repayment under this section: "(1) The person is fully qualified in a health care profession that the Secretary of the military department concerned has determined to be necessary to meet identified skill shortages. "(2) The person is enrolled as a full-time student in the final year of a course of study at an accredited educational institution leading to a degree in a health profession other than medicine or osteopathic medicine. "(3) The person is enrolled in the final year of an approved graduate program leading to specialty qualification in medicine, dentistry, osteopathic medicine, or other health profession. "(d) CERTAIN PERSONS INELIGIBLE. —Participants of the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program under subchapter I of chapter 105 of this title and students of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences established under section 2112 of this title are not eligible for the repa5mient of an education loan under this section. "(e) LOAN REPAYMENTS. — (1) Subject to the limits established by paragraph (2), a loan repayment under this section may consist
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