The Secretary, during the period ending September 30, 1982, may, in accordance with this part, make loans from the fund established under section 300q–2(d) of this title to any public or nonprofit private entity for projects for—

The Secretary, during the period ending September 30, 1982, may, in accordance with this part, make loans from the fund established under section 300q–2(d) of this title to any public or nonprofit private entity for projects for—

(A) the discontinuance of unneeded hospital services or facilities,[1]

(B) the conversion of unneeded hospital services and facilities to needed health services and medical facilities, including outpatient medical facilities and facilities for long-term care;

(C) the renovation and modernization of medical facilities, particularly projects for the prevention or elimination of safety hazards, projects to avoid noncompliance with licensure or accreditation standards, or projects to replace obsolete facilities;

(D) the construction of new outpatient medical facilities; and

(E) the construction of new inpatient medical facilities in areas which have experienced (as determined by the Secretary) recent rapid population growth.

The Secretary, during the period ending September 30, 1982, may, in accordance with this part, guarantee to—

(A) The Secretary, during the period ending September 30, 1982, may, in accordance with this part, guarantee to— (i) non-Federal lenders for their loans to public and nonprofit private entities for medical facilities projects described in paragraph (1), and (ii) the Federal Financing Bank for its loans to public and nonprofit private entities for such projects, payment of principal and interest on such loans.

(B) In the case of a guarantee of any loan to a public or nonprofit private entity under subparagraph (A)(i) which is located in an urban or rural poverty area, the Secretary may pay, to the holder of such loan and for and on behalf of the project for which the loan was made, amounts sufficient to reduce by not more than one half the net effective interest rate otherwise payable on such loan if the Secretary finds that without such assistance the project could not be undertaken.

The principal amount of a loan directly made or guaranteed under subsection (a) for a medical facilities project, when added to any other assistance provided such project under part B, may not exceed 90 per centum of the cost of such project unless the project is located in an area determined by the Secretary to be an urban or rural poverty area, in which case the principal amount, when added to other assistance under part B, may cover up to 100 per centum of such costs.

The cumulative total of the principal of the loans outstanding at any time with respect to which guarantees have been issued, or which have been directly made, may not exceed such limitations as may be specified in appropriation Acts.

The Secretary, with the consent of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall obtain from the Department of Housing and Urban Development such assistance with respect to the administration of this part as will promote efficiency and economy thereof.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XVI, § 1601, formerly § 1620, as added Pub. L. 93–641, § 4, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2264; amended Pub. L. 94–273, § 2(21), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 376; Pub. L. 95–83, title I, § 106(x)(1), Aug. 1, 1977, 91 Stat. 385; renumbered § 1601 and amended Pub. L. 96–79, title II, §§ 201(b)(1), 203(a)(1), (2), Oct. 4, 1979, 93 Stat. 630, 635.)