Title III, SEC. 3013. ALLOCATIONS AMONG SPECIALITIES AND PROGRAMS. 
      (a) In General. For each academic year, the National Council shall for 
    each medical specialty make allocations among eligible programs of the 
    annual number of specialty positions that the Council has designated for 
    such year.  The preceding sentence is subject to subsection (b)(3). 

      (b) Allocations Regarding 3-Year Period. 

        (1) In general. For each medical specialty, the National Council shall 
      make the annual allocations under subsection (a) for periods of 3 
      academic years. 

        (2) Advance notice to programs. With respect to the first academic year 
      of an allocation period established by the National Council, the National 
      Council shall, not later than July 1 of the preceding academic year, 
      notify each eligible program of the allocations made for the program for 
      each of the academic years of the period. 

        (3) Initial period. The first allocation period established by the 
      National Council after the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the 
      academic years 1998-99 through 2000-01. 

      (c) Certain Considerations. 

        (1) Geographic areas; quality of residency programs. In making 
      allocations under subsection (a) for eligible programs of the various 
      geographic areas, the National Council shall include among the factors 
      considered the historical distribution among the areas of approved 
      physician training programs, and the quality of each of the programs. 

        (2) Underrepresentation of minority groups. In making an allocation 
      under subsection (a) for an eligible program, the National Council shall 
      include among the factors considered the following: 

          (A) The extent to which the population of training participants in 
        the program includes training participants who are members of racial or 
        ethnic minority groups. 

          (B) With respect to a racial or ethnic group represented among the 
        training participants, the extent to which the group is 
        underrepresented in the field of medicine generally and in the various 
        medical specialities. 

        (3) Recommendations of private organizations. In making allocations 
      under subsection (a) for eligible programs, the National Council shall 
      consider the recommendations of organizations representing physicians in 
      the medical specialties and the recommendations of organizations 
      representing consumers of the services of such physicians. 

      (d) Definitions. For purposes of this subtitle, the term ``allocation 
    period'' means a 3-year period under subsection (b)(1) for which 
    allocations under subsection (a) are made by the National Council.