[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2873 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2873

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

            Passed the Senate November 29, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
114th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2873

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.