A health care officer described in subsection (b) shall be eligible for special pay under section 302, 302a, 302b, 302c, 302e, or 303 of this title (whichever applies) notwithstanding any requirement in those sections that—

(1) the call or order of the officer to active duty be for a period of not less than one year; or

(2) the officer execute a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year.

A health care officer referred to in subsection (a) is an officer of the armed forces who is otherwise eligible for special pay under section 302, 302a, 302b, 302c, 302e, or 303 of this title and who—

(1) is a reserve officer on active duty (other than for training) under a call or order to active duty for a period of more than 30 days but less than one year;

(2) is involuntarily retained on active duty under section 12305 of title 10, or is recalled to active duty under section 688 of title 10 for a period of more than 30 days; or

voluntarily agrees to remain on active duty for a period of less than one year at a time when—

(A) officers are involuntarily retained on active duty under section 12305 of title 10; or

(B) the Secretary of Defense determines (pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary) that special circumstances justify the payment of special pay under this section.

Payment of special pay pursuant to this section may be made on a monthly basis. The officer shall repay in the manner provided in section 303a(e) of this title any amount received under this section in excess of the amount that corresponds to the actual period of active duty served by the officer.

While a reserve medical or dental officer receives a special pay under section 302 or 302b of this title by reason of subsection (a), the officer shall not be entitled to special pay under section 302(h) or 302b(h) of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 634(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1381; amended Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(d)(4)(A), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 625(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–153; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(b)(9), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3329.)