1.This Act may be cited as
the Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Act
.
2.The table of contents
of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short
title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I—Paralysis research
Sec. 101. Expansion and coordination of activities of the
National Institutes of Health with respect to research on
paralysis.
TITLE II—Paralysis rehabilitation research and care
Sec. 201. Expansion and coordination of activities of the
National Institutes of Health with respect to research with implications for
enhancing daily function for persons with paralysis.
TITLE III—Improving quality of life for persons with paralysis
and other physical disabilities
Sec. 301. Programs to improve quality of life for persons with
paralysis and other physical disabilities.
TITLE IV—Activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs
Sec. 401. Expansion and coordination of activities of the
Veterans Health Administration.
Sec. 402. Definitions.
<enum>I</enum><header>Paralysis
research</header>
<section id="H9859FA0EA30A41D3B0AAB4280071B6A2"><enum>101.</enum><header>Expansion and
coordination of activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to
research on paralysis</header>
<subsection id="H260C66BF1B624429B8AADF0630504845"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="HFE652AD209EC43E4BC33BCBDE97248A8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Enhanced
coordination of activities</header><text>The Director of the National
Institutes of Health (in this section referred to as the
<quote>Director</quote>) may expand and coordinate the activities of such
Institutes with respect to research on paralysis. In order to further expand
upon the activities of this section, the Director may consider the methods
outlined in the report under section 2(b) of Public Law 108–427 with respect to
spinal cord injury and paralysis research (relating to the Roadmap for Medical
Research of the National Institutes of Health).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H723699640F8B46BCB04B2CEC594C1567"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration
of program; collaboration among agencies</header><text>The Director shall carry
out this section acting through the Director of the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (in this section referred to as the
<quote>Institute</quote>) and in collaboration with any other agencies that the
Director determines appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF28E898B52D24D46A959E7EC5D513CDF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination</header>
<paragraph id="HDA6A4E21111A445F00E2A6C48B3490A9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director may develop mechanisms to coordinate the
paralysis research and rehabilitation activities of the agencies of the
National Institutes of Health in order to further advance such activities and
avoid duplication of activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2E9099A0E77C4907A9F6BFB3D7396582"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than December 1, 2005, the Director shall prepare and submit a report to
Congress that provides a description of the paralysis activities of the
Institute and strategies for future activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFDDD2F35D26142D48335B965E19000F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Christopher
reeve paralysis research consortia</header>
<paragraph id="H5523E5E8C46E419A983D84D2BF8D07D8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director may under subsection (a)(1) make awards of
grants to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost
of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for
consortia in paralysis research. The Director shall designate each consortium
funded under grants as a Christopher Reeve Paralysis Research
Consortium.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H446037A7E09846A9BE599DE9DE6CB52B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Research</header><text>Each
consortium under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB86B959D1C2D436AB042647EA4A3FC84"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may conduct basic
and clinical paralysis research;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H829E3665F1694B76A5CF4BB2A461F497"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may focus on
advancing treatments and developing therapies in paralysis research;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7AEF249195C54C5E96E3996F65AE0711"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may focus on one
or more forms of paralysis that result from central nervous system trauma or
stroke;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H03CEB5022102472193C7E7FE0A081CD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>may facilitate and
enhance the dissemination of clinical and scientific findings; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4DDC3A1CC34F4D9C99E6E7F98CC70450"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may replicate the
findings of consortia members for scientific and translational purposes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD1A6886DF336476D99ADCB91511DFBC9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination of
consortia; reports</header><text>The Director may, as appropriate, provide for
the coordination of information among consortia under paragraph (1) and ensure
regular communication between members of the consortia, and may require the
periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the consortia and the
submission of the reports to the Director.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H131BCCB9441740EF82AAE8C3ABA4F231"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Organization of
consortia</header><text>Each consortium under paragraph (1) may use the
facilities of a single lead institution, or be formed from several cooperating
institutions, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed by the
Director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H17B330A2C3F7461A83369947F8D1BD7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public
input</header><text>The Director may under subsection (a)(1) provide for a
mechanism to educate and disseminate information on the existing and planned
programs and research activities of the National Institutes of Health with
respect to paralysis and through which the Director can receive comments from
the public regarding such programs and activities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5075B6BCC3B44A878E3415F11EB45FCE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>For the purpose of carrying out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated in the aggregate $25,000,000 for the
fiscal years 2006 through 2009. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are
in addition to any other amounts appropriated for such purpose.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Paralysis
rehabilitation research and care</header>
<section id="H7295CAD3A4244B64B4B79E194331191E"><enum>201.</enum><header>Expansion and
coordination of activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to
research with implications for enhancing daily function for persons with
paralysis</header>
<subsection id="H9CA05ED02D2E45FBA6C9146253E8AC22"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="HC5E994949FB04F2D89004E4565F3682"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Expansion of
activities</header><text>The Director of the National Institutes of Health (in
this section referred to as the <quote>Director</quote>) may expand and
coordinate the activities of such Institutes with respect to research with
implications for enhancing daily function for people with paralysis.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H32F0FCF7A6D14275B752F8256F24125"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration of
program; collaboration among agencies</header><text>The Director shall carry
out this section acting through the Director of the National Institute on Child
Health and Human Development and the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation
Research and in collaboration with the National Institute on Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and any
other agencies that the Director determines appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE616D60CAA2A43A38C54A92FB4405C17"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Paralysis
clinical trials networks</header>
<paragraph id="HAB785FE19CC449A1855800E0719E97E4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director may make awards of grants to public or
nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the costs of planning,
establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support to multicenter
networks of clinical sites that will collaborate to design clinical
rehabilitation intervention protocols and measures of outcomes on one or more
forms of paralysis that result from central nervous system trauma, disorders,
or stroke, or any combination of such conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAED4367B1996415B95B1E9231700AB10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Research</header><text>Each
multicenter clinical trial network may—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA76E92489C9A4C66AC1C5D34C8D9B6E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>focus on areas of
key scientific concern, including—</text>
<clause id="H76B4A156CC1042DF977D37537898548F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>improving
functional mobility;</text>
</clause><clause id="H677A0A097CCE40169DAA9B7FD7AD1B6F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>promoting
behavioral adaptation to functional losses, especially to prevent secondary
complications;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF04EABAF113A4DCF97DB61A9D2F3AF19"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>assessing the
efficacy and outcomes of medical rehabilitation therapies and practices and
assisting technologies;</text>
</clause><clause id="H11FBC080466140C5B4C9DCE09E0934F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>developing
improved assistive technology to improve function and independence; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9774C1E1DBB74E2C9DF4531D3B762621"><enum>(v)</enum><text>understanding
whole body system responses to physical impairments, disabilities, and societal
and functional limitations; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33589A58851045D881D7DDCEBFB3B74D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>replicate the
findings of network members for scientific and translation purposes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFFB9AE0433BC42DC8BCC06180696FF26"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination of
clinical trials networks; reports</header><text>The Director may, as
appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among networks and
ensure regular communication between members of the networks, and may require
the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the networks and
submission of reports to the Director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5EBF6217644644308FFD4628E28B3493"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than December 1, 2005, the Director shall submit to the Congress a report
that provides a description of research activities with implications for
enhancing daily function for persons with paralysis.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6504EDF14DB04AB38605B2297F3B2532"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated
in the aggregate $25,000,000 for the fiscal years 2006 through 2009. Amounts
appropriated under this subsection are in addition to any other amounts
appropriated for such purpose.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Improving
quality of life for persons with paralysis and other physical
disabilities</header>
<section id="H9C6B7A9E79CA42E400F25BB870D5162C"><enum>301.</enum><header>Programs to
improve quality of life for persons with paralysis and other physical
disabilities</header>
<subsection id="H1B5D8B0A4BDF4DC08E2474423DFF6F9C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this title
referred to as the <quote>Secretary</quote>), acting through the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may study the unique health
challenges associated with paralysis and other physical disabilities and carry
out projects and interventions to improve the quality of life and long-term
health status of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities. The
Secretary may carry out such projects directly and through awards of grants or
contracts.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE1397C2AB9354A05B44457319BE336DA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Certain
activities</header><text>Activities under subsection (a) include—</text>
<paragraph id="H037657753C8A4A09A4871DA97603388"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the development of
a national paralysis and physical disability quality of life action plan, to
promote health and wellness in order to enhance full participation, independent
living, self-sufficiency and equality of opportunity in partnership with
voluntary health agencies focused on paralysis and other physical disabilities,
to be carried out in coordination with the State-based Comprehensive Paralysis
and Other Physical Disability Quality of Life Program of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5844C767E7644473AF7B9F008D08AE5D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>support for
programs to disseminate information involving care and rehabilitation options
and quality of life grant programs supportive of community based programs and
support systems for persons with paralysis and other physical
disabilities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBB47B68E96554E6EB1E537B15D6479A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in collaboration
with other centers and national voluntary health agencies, establish a
hospital-based paralysis registry and conduct relevant population-based
research; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFA87543400D040ED9600581C1EDC0000"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the development of
comprehensive, unique and innovative programs, services, and demonstrations
within existing State-based disability and health programs of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention which are designed to support and advance
quality of life programs for persons living with paralysis and other physical
disabilities focusing on—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEB863204308C4B88981E98CAA210FFBA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>caregiver
education;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA36D5A1EC0E241628CCD018622A80752"><enum>(B)</enum><text>physical
activity;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE2692D28387641B591D4C381F2D697CC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>education and
awareness programs for health care providers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H44E9C9A7071F48DCB8C2119ED3952B7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>prevention of
secondary complications;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H22714D6B168F4834A75238EC11B134D8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>home and
community-based interventions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6BF5456D13C44AF884726BBBEEC5F9C0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>coordinating
services and removing barriers that prevent full participation and integration
into the community; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD428A9C0E154193A001E21C005B7FB1"><enum>(G)</enum><text>recognizing the
unique needs of underserved populations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9C28517E0D964CD3A48B6444DB664338"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grants</header><text>The
Secretary may award grants in accordance with the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H1E36A384369646E5BC1BF3BE1801FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To
State and local health and disability agencies for the purpose of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H28FF767B207F40BA88239857449D14C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>establishing
paralysis registries for the support of relevant population-based
research;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H92B10BF657E14258915F129E73AAB31F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>developing
comprehensive paralysis and other physical disability action plans and
activities focused on the items listed in subsection (b)(4);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63F40D186A1C490AAFBFB5C38683183"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assisting
State-based programs in establishing and implementing partnerships and
collaborations that maximize the input and support of people with paralysis and
other physical disabilities and their constituent organizations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB990ADE993E48DCA2F5EA86AC02FAB7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>coordinating
paralysis and physical disability activities with existing State-based
disability and health programs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H495597AAF7524A52A90765363CB3BFFB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing
education and training opportunities and programs for health professionals and
allied caregivers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H24BA65B3D4FA48969E679EA2001DACA9"><enum>(F)</enum><text>developing,
testing, evaluating, and replicating effective intervention programs to
maintain or improve health and quality of life.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H61AA910B2B7C4B20B65393A36FB191ED"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To nonprofit
private health and disability organizations for the purpose of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB8E572A547774EC9B446855C92806D13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>disseminating
information to the public;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B9A80F66ACB48F4AA6487795EF5CCAB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improving access
to services for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities
and their caregivers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB5E6F87C66A416499003E6BD473F3C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>testing model
intervention programs to improve health and quality of life; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA0BFDFAD6604A67A600FB40DDB11DF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>coordinating
existing services with State-based disability and health programs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H07E5F2D0A9BB4BD8B1B39C00BBC9C01"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Coordination of
activities</header><text>The Secretary shall assure that activities under this
section are coordinated as appropriate with other agencies of the Public Health
Service.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3544AB13FB6249AA86B334838D00777F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report to
Congress</header><text>Not later than December 1, 2005, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report describing the results of the evaluation under
subsection (a), and as applicable, the strategies developed under such
subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H000B3261DCFB49B5BD2252DA47809C77"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated
in the aggregate $25,000,000 for the fiscal years 2006 through 2009.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Activities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<section id="H8D55A35357EE4326006EE01F29008BBD"><enum>401.</enum><header>Expansion and
coordination of activities of the Veterans Health Administration</header>
<subsection id="H587D4877606742B8A355EFB06E284432"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="HD1A22074E9FB4BBFA278BF09A133C2D8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Enhanced
coordination of activities</header><text>The Secretary may expand and
coordinate activities of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department
of Veterans Affairs with respect to research on paralysis.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2551E23576A24C5ABB0065A0043F9565"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration
of program</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out this section through the
Chief Research and Development Officer of the Administration in collaboration
with the National Institutes of Health and other agencies the Secretary
determines appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H124075D7492F46C581C5407DCE29E6F0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
paralysis research, education, and clinical care</header>
<paragraph id="HA8AE7F2E217546C9B8C68C777131D8B2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs centers to be known as
Paralysis Research, Education and Clinical Care Centers. Such centers shall be
established through the awarding of grants to Administration medical centers
that are affiliated with medical schools or other organizations the Secretary
considers appropriate. Such grants may be used to pay all or part of the costs
of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for
such centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H922AADD96F34403E004457815126E242"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Research</header><text>Each
center under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA07E9418891348610074F39981F1CE26"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may focus on basic
biomedical research on the types of paralysis that result from neurologic
dysfunction, neurodegeneration, or trauma;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49F1749A59F04A0E9E8998A92C008847"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may focus on
clinical science research on the types of paralysis that result from neurologic
dysfunction, neurodegeneration, or trauma;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H94C83256D0E54092A662776D50E0F1EF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may focus on
rehabilitation research on the types of paralysis that result from neurologic
dysfunction, neurodegeneration, or trauma;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74EB46ACE78F4FF6A542A15301D64A1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>may focus on health
services research on the types of paralysis that result from neurologic
dysfunction, neurodegeneration, or trauma to improve health outcomes, increase
the cost-effectiveness of service, and implement best practices in the
treatment of such types of paralysis; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2CF408E493146218B6D7854C1E6A5BA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may facilitate and
enhance the dissemination of scientific findings and evidence-based
practices.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF50EC71B8175487EABB7BE744C006D94"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination of
centers into consortia</header><text>The Secretary may, as appropriate, provide
for the linkage and coordination of information among centers under paragraph
(1) in order to create national consortia of centers and to ensure regular
communications between members of the centers. Each consortium—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2F6B6743503E40A00066A94F97C43297"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may expand the
capacity of its Administration medical centers to conduct basic, clinical,
rehabilitation, and health-sciences research with respect to paralysis by
increasing the available research resources;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC9BF91C9481243BCB44DEBAFD9198D23"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may identify gaps
in research, clinical service, or implementation strategies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H030CD8F4FFC542758BC813A0F5C5B3C6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may operate as a
multidisciplinary research and clinical care team to determine best practices,
to develop standards of care, and to establish guidelines for implementation
throughout the Administration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H01E8FFEF490E4B87A5377B7D33A338F2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>may use the
facilities of a single lead institution, or facilities formed from several
cooperating institutions, that meet such requirements as prescribed by the
Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F41B8438B4B4D31B7C36F1C56A4D53"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may provide core
funding that will enhance ongoing research by bringing together paralysis
health care and research communities in a manner that will enrich the
effectiveness of clinical care, present research and future directions;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H43C4CC089097481AABD586AD72C1A47D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>may include
administrative, research, clinical, educational and implementation cores, and
other cores that may be proposed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6BAC80F5455345A0AC110000FF7C00BE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coordination of
information; reports</header><text>The Secretary may, as appropriate, provide
for the coordination of information among centers and consortia under this
section and ensure regular communication with respect to the activities of the
centers and consortia, and may require the periodic preparation of reports on
the activities of the centers and consortia, and require the submission of such
reports.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H611C6A7559A54A72A1E8B6BA4E92D317"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Establishment of
quality enhancement research initiatives for paralysis</header>
<paragraph id="H3C179E9BEC32404C8E14D89468DF9E77"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary may make grants to medical centers of the
Administration for the purpose of carrying out projects to translate clinical
findings and recommendations with respect to paralysis into evidence-based best
practices for use by the Administration. Such projects shall be designated by
the Secretary as Quality Enhancement Research Initiative projects (referred to
in this subsection as <quote>QUERI projects</quote>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC9783D9D6244BD991E0E945A1EB015F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>A
grant may be made under paragraph (1) to a medical center described in such
paragraph only if the center is affiliated with a school of medicine or with
another entity determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H80C0716CFBF44E0C88E168664334DFF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Certain uses of
grant</header><text>The activities for which a grant under paragraph (1) may be
expended by a QUERI project include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H3280BB26838F43769EE35D4267C09DDF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>To pay all or part
of the costs of planning, establishing, improving and providing basic operating
support for the project.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB3A712CF6A1E427C8F00F181A8F6D9A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>To work toward
implementing best practices identified under paragraph (1) throughout the
Administration through efforts to facilitate comprehensive organizational
change, and to evaluate and refine such implementation efforts through the
collection, analysis, and reporting of data on critical patient outcomes and
system performance.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H434B299F39BE4BE99E378FFDBE59003F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>To identify
high-risk or high-volume primary or secondary consequences of paralysis that
results from neurologic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, or trauma.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD633ADEC264240D6ADAC391709007BA1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>To systematically
examine quality of care for persons with paralysis from neurologic dysfunction,
neurodegeneration, or trauma.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE58DE683CF3A47359F9CD07D8492C787"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To define existing practice patterns and
outcomes for persons with paralysis throughout the Administration and current
variation from best practices both within and outside of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A3AC5C93AD149E4A6EFB2E1E2B4DA4F"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To enhance ongoing research by bringing
together paralysis clinical care and health service research communities to
identify the health care needs of the paralysis community, examine standard
practices, determine best practices and to implement best practices for persons
with paralysis and their families.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3241776499F4049A27DFFC566A94439"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To formulate health service research
protocols aimed at determining paralysis-care related best practices, closing
the gap between current practices in paralysis care in the Department of
Veterans Affairs, assessing the best practices within and outside of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and developing strategies for the
implementation of best practices.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDA24B01E1A774DC380001922E5299B8E"><enum>(H)</enum><text>To implement
information, tools, products and other interventions determined to be in the
best interest of persons with paralysis (including performance criteria for
clinicians and psychosocial interventions for veterans and their
families).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H529BF87917614110BAE5D742C745F286"><enum>(I)</enum><text>To disseminate
findings in scientific peer-reviewed journals and other venues deemed
appropriate, such as veteran service organization publications.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H65E95B89C4714E1C89F050B243C651D5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Organization of
project</header><text>Each QUERI project may use the facilities of a single
lead medical center, or be formed from cooperating such centers that meet such
requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H53F5BB0F8D94466BA8E245CE46F0024"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Maintenance of
effort</header><text>A grant may be made under paragraph (1) only if, with
respect to activities for which the award is authorized to be expended, the
applicant for the award agrees to maintain expenditures of non-Federal amounts
for such activities at a level that is not less than the level of such
expenditures maintained by the applicant for the fiscal year preceding the
first fiscal year for which the applicant receives such an award.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24208F8DBBB04A918329B1E611BA9219"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated
in the aggregate $25,000,000 for fiscal years 2006 through 2009. Amounts
appropriated under this section are in addition to any other amounts
appropriated for such purpose.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HE4CE47FF707C4571A2E015D17232F1E3"><enum>402.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H4D851F92392B4524A156023CE5D0A902"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term
<quote>Administration</quote> means the Veterans Health Administration of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD56F6348A5584F058E925F00C3E9B89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term
<quote>Secretary</quote> means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph></section>