[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5199 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5199
To amend the Public Health Service Act to expand the capacity to
improve health outcomes and increase access to specialized care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 20, 2019
Mr. Lujan (for himself, Mr. Burgess, Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico,
Mr. Kinzinger, Ms. Haaland, and Mr. Gianforte) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to expand the capacity to
improve health outcomes and increase access to specialized care.
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 of 2019'' or the ``ECHO Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES.
Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 330M (42 U.S.C. 254c-19) the following:
``SEC. 330N. EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'--
``(A) means an entity that provides, or supports
the provision of, health care services--
``(i) in rural areas, frontier areas,
health professional shortage areas, or
medically underserved areas; or
``(ii) to medically underserved populations
or Native Americans, including Indian Tribes,
Tribal organizations, or urban Indian
organizations; and
``(B) may include entities leading, or capable of
leading, a technology-enabled collaborative learning
and capacity building model or engaging in technology-
enabled collaborative training of participants in such
model.
``(2) Health professional shortage area.--The term `health
professional shortage area' means a health professional
shortage area designated under section 332.
``(3) Indian tribe.--The terms `Indian Tribe' and `Tribal
organization' have the meanings given the terms `Indian tribe'
and `tribal organization' in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act.
``(4) Medically underserved population.--The term
`medically underserved population' has the meaning given the
term in section 330(b)(3).
``(5) Native americans.--The term `Native Americans' has
the meaning given such term in section 736 and includes Indian
Tribes and Tribal organizations.
``(6) 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 health care
professionals, and particularly 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.
``(7) Urban indian organization.--The `urban Indian
organization' has the meaning given the term `Urban Indian
organization' in section 4 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act.
``(b) Program Established.--The Secretary shall, as appropriate,
award grants to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand the use
of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building
models, to improve retention of health care providers and increase
access to health care services, such as those to address chronic
diseases and conditions, infectious diseases, mental health, substance
use disorders, prenatal and maternal health, pediatric care, pain
management, palliative care, and other specialty care in rural areas,
frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically
underserved areas and for medically underserved populations or Native
Americans, including Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Grants awarded under subsection (b)
shall be used for--
``(A) the development and acquisition of
instructional programming, and the training of health
care providers and other professionals that provide or
assist in the provision of services through models
described in subsection (b), such as training on best
practices for data collection and leading or
participating in such technology-enabled activities
consistent with technology-enabled collaborative
learning and capacity building models;
``(B) information collection and evaluation
activities to study the impact of such models on
patient outcomes and health care providers, and to
identify best practices for the expansion and use of
such models; or
``(C) other activities consistent with achieving
the objectives of the grants awarded under this
section, as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Other uses.--In addition to any of the uses under
paragraph (1), grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used
for--
``(A) equipment to support the use and expansion of
technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity
building models, including for hardware and software
that enables distance learning, health care provider
support, and the secure exchange of electronic health
information; or
``(B) support for health care providers and other
professionals that provide or assist in the provision
of services through such models.
``(d) Length of Grants.--Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall
be for a period of up to 5 years.
``(e) Grant Requirements.--The Secretary may require entities
awarded a grant under this section to collect information on the effect
of the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity
building models, such as on health outcomes, access to health care
services, quality of care, and provider retention in areas and
populations described in subsection (b). The Secretary may award a
grant or contract to assist in the coordination of such models,
including to assess outcomes associated with the use of such models in
grants awarded under subsection (b), including for the purpose
described in subsection (c)(1)(B).
``(f) Application.--An eligible entity that seeks to receive a
grant under subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary an
application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall
include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative
learning and capacity building models on patient outcomes and health
care providers.
``(g) Access to Broadband.--In administering grants under this
section, the Secretary may coordinate with other agencies to ensure
that funding opportunities are available to support access to reliable,
high-speed internet for grantees.
``(h) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide (either
directly through the Department of Health and Human Services or by
contract) technical assistance to eligible entities, including
recipients of grants under subsection (b), on the development, use, and
evaluation of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity
building models in order to expand access to health care services
provided by such entities, including for medically underserved areas
and to medically underserved populations or Native Americans, including
Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
``(i) Research and Evaluation.--The Secretary, in consultation with
stakeholders with appropriate expertise in such models, shall develop a
strategic plan to research and evaluate the evidence for such models.
The Secretary shall use such plan to inform the activities carried out
under this section.
``(j) Report by Secretary.--Not later than 4 years after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and 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 internet website of the Department of
Health and Human Services, a report including, at minimum--
``(1) a description of any new and continuing grants
awarded to entities under subsection (b) and the specific
purpose and amounts of such grants;
``(2) an overview of--
``(A) the evaluations conducted under subsection
(b);
``(B) technical assistance provided under
subsection (h); and
``(C) activities conducted by entities awarded
grants under subsection (b); and
``(3) a description of any significant findings or
developments related to patient outcomes or health care
providers and best practices for eligible entities expanding,
using, or evaluating technology-enabled collaborative learning
and capacity building models, including through the activities
described in subsection (h).
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2020 through 2024.''.
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