[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2873 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2873
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
An Act
To require studies and reports examining the use of, and opportunities
to use, technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building
models to improve programs of the Department of Health and Human
Services, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Capacity for Health
Outcomes Act'' or the ``ECHO Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Health professional shortage area.--The term ``health
professional shortage area'' means a health professional shortage
area designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254e).
(2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning
given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) Medically underserved area.--The term ``medically
underserved area'' has the meaning given the term ``medically
underserved community'' in section 799B of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p).
(4) Medically underserved population.--The term ``medically
underserved population'' has the meaning given the term in section
330(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)).
(5) Native americans.--The term ``Native Americans'' has the
meaning given the term in section 736 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 293) and includes Indian tribes and tribal
organizations.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.
(7) Technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity
building model.--The term ``technology-enabled collaborative
learning and capacity building model'' means a distance health
education model that connects specialists with multiple other
health care professionals through simultaneous interactive
videoconferencing for the purpose of facilitating case-based
learning, disseminating best practices, and evaluating outcomes.
(8) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' has
the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
SEC. 3. EXAMINATION AND REPORT ON TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED COLLABORATIVE
LEARNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING MODELS.
(a) Examination.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall examine technology-enabled
collaborative learning and capacity building models and their
impact on--
(A) addressing mental and substance use disorders, chronic
diseases and conditions, prenatal and maternal health,
pediatric care, pain management, and palliative care;
(B) addressing health care workforce issues, such as
specialty care shortages and primary care workforce
recruitment, retention, and support for lifelong learning;
(C) the implementation of public health programs, including
those related to disease prevention, infectious disease
outbreaks, and public health surveillance;
(D) the delivery of health care services in rural areas,
frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, and
medically underserved areas, and to medically underserved
populations and Native Americans; and
(E) addressing other issues the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(2) Consultation.--In the examination required under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall consult public and private stakeholders
with expertise in using technology-enabled collaborative learning
and capacity building models in health care settings.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives,
and post on the appropriate website of the Department of Health and
Human Services, a report based on the examination under subsection
(a).
(2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall
include findings from the examination under subsection (a) and each
of the following:
(A) An analysis of--
(i) the use and integration of technology-enabled
collaborative learning and capacity building models by
health care providers;
(ii) the impact of such models on health care provider
retention, including in health professional shortage areas
in the States and communities in which such models have
been adopted;
(iii) the impact of such models on the quality of, and
access to, care for patients in the States and communities
in which such models have been adopted;
(iv) the barriers faced by health care providers,
States, and communities in adopting such models;
(v) the impact of such models on the ability of local
health care providers and specialists to practice to the
full extent of their education, training, and licensure,
including the effects on patient wait times for specialty
care; and
(vi) efficient and effective practices used by States
and communities that have adopted such models, including
potential cost-effectiveness of such models.
(B) A list of such models that have been funded by the
Secretary in the 5 years immediately preceding such report,
including the Federal programs that have provided funding for
such models.
(C) Recommendations to reduce barriers for using and
integrating such models, and opportunities to improve adoption
of, and support for, such models as appropriate.
(D) Opportunities for increased adoption of such models
into programs of the Department of Health and Human Services
that are in existence as of the report.
(E) Recommendations regarding the role of such models in
continuing medical education and lifelong learning, including
the role of academic medical centers, provider organizations,
and community providers in such education and lifelong
learning.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.