42 USC 254 - Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund

Collapse to view only § 254b-2. Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund

§ 254b. Health centers
§ 254b-1. State grants to health care providers who provide services to a high percentage of medically underserved populations or other special populations
§ 254b-2. Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund
§ 254c. Rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs
§ 254c-1. Grants for health services for Pacific Islanders
§ 254c-1a. Grants to nurse-managed health clinics
§ 254c-1b. Rural obstetric network grants
§ 254c-2. Special diabetes programs for type I diabetes
§ 254c-3. Special diabetes programs for Indians
§ 254c-4. Repealed.
§ 254c-5. Epilepsy; seizure disorder
§ 254c-6. Certain services for pregnant women
§ 254c-7. Special needs adoption programs; public awareness campaign and other activities
§ 254c-8. Healthy start for infants
§ 254c-9. Establishment of program of grants
§ 254c-10. Certain requirements
§ 254c-11. Technical assistance
§ 254c-12. Definitions
§ 254c-13. Authorization of appropriations
§ 254c-14. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs
§ 254c-15. Transferred
§ 254c-16. Mental health services delivered via telehealth
§ 254c-17. Repealed.
§ 254c-18. Telemedicine; incentive grants regarding coordination among States
§ 254c-19. Pediatric mental health care access grants
§ 254c-20. Expanding capacity for health outcomes
§ 254c-21. Innovation for maternal health
§ 254c-22. Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women

§ 254b. Health centers

(a) “Health center” defined

(1) In generalFor purposes of this section, the term “health center” means an entity that serves a population that is medically underserved, or a special medically underserved population comprised of migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, the homeless, and residents of public housing, by providing, either through the staff and supporting resources of the center or through contracts or cooperative arrangements—

(A) required primary health services (as defined in subsection (b)(1)); and

(B) as may be appropriate for particular centers, additional health services (as defined in subsection (b)(2)) necessary for the adequate support of the primary health services required under subparagraph (A);

for all residents of the area served by the center (hereafter referred to in this section as the “catchment area”).

(2) Limitation

(b) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:

(1) Required primary health services

(A) In generalThe term “required primary health services” means—

(i) basic health services which, for purposes of this section, shall consist of—(I) health services related to family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology that are furnished by physicians and where appropriate, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives;(II) diagnostic laboratory and radiologic services;(III) preventive health services, including—(aa) prenatal and perinatal services;(bb) appropriate cancer screening;(cc) well-child services;(dd) immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases;(ee) screenings for elevated blood lead levels, communicable diseases, and cholesterol;(ff) pediatric eye, ear, and dental screenings to determine the need for vision and hearing correction and dental care;(gg) voluntary family planning services; and(hh) preventive dental services;(IV) emergency medical services; and(V) pharmaceutical services as may be appropriate for particular centers;

(ii) referrals to providers of medical services (including specialty referral when medically indicated) and other health-related services (including substance use disorder and mental health services);

(iii) patient case management services (including counseling, referral, and follow-up services) and other services designed to assist health center patients in establishing eligibility for and gaining access to Federal, State, and local programs that provide or financially support the provision of medical, social, housing, educational, or other related services;

(iv) services that enable individuals to use the services of the health center (including outreach and transportation services and, if a substantial number of the individuals in the population served by a center are of limited English-speaking ability, the services of appropriate personnel fluent in the language spoken by a predominant number of such individuals); and

(v) education of patients and the general population served by the health center regarding the availability and proper use of health services.

(B) ExceptionWith respect to a health center that receives a grant only under subsection (g), the Secretary, upon a showing of good cause, shall—

(i) waive the requirement that the center provide all required primary health services under this paragraph; and

(ii) approve, as appropriate, the provision of certain required primary health services only during certain periods of the year.

(2) Additional health servicesThe term “additional health services” means services that are not included as required primary health services and that are appropriate to meet the health needs of the population served by the health center involved. Such term may include—

(A) behavioral and mental health and substance use disorder services;

(B) recuperative care services;

(i) the detection and alleviation of unhealthful conditions associated with—(I) water supply;(II) chemical and pesticide exposures;(III) air quality; or(IV) exposure to lead;

(ii) sewage treatment;

(iii) solid waste disposal;

(iv) rodent and parasitic infestation;

(v) field sanitation;

(vi) housing; and

(vii) other environmental factors related to health; and

(D) in the case of health centers receiving grants under subsection (g), special occupation-related health services for migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, including—

(i) screening for and control of infectious diseases, including parasitic diseases; and

(ii) injury prevention programs, including prevention of exposure to unsafe levels of agricultural chemicals including pesticides.

(3) Medically underserved populations

(A) In general

(B) CriteriaIn carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall prescribe criteria for determining the specific shortages of personal health services of an area or population group. Such criteria shall—

(i) take into account comments received by the Secretary from the chief executive officer of a State and local officials in a State; and

(ii) include factors indicative of the health status of a population group or residents of an area, the ability of the residents of an area or of a population group to pay for health services and their accessibility to them, and the availability of health professionals to residents of an area or to a population group.

(C) LimitationThe Secretary may not designate a medically underserved population in a State or terminate the designation of such a population unless, prior to such designation or termination, the Secretary provides reasonable notice and opportunity for comment and consults with—

(i) the chief executive officer of such State;

(ii) local officials in such State; and

(iii) the organization, if any, which represents a majority of health centers in such State.

(D) Permissible designation

(1) CentersThe Secretary may make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for projects to plan and develop health centers which will serve medically underserved populations. A project for which a grant may be made under this subsection may include the cost of the acquisition and lease of buildings and equipment (including the costs of amortizing the principal of, and paying the interest on, loans) and shall include—

(A) an assessment of the need that the population proposed to be served by the health center for which the project is undertaken has for required primary health services and additional health services;

(B) the design of a health center program for such population based on such assessment;

(C) efforts to secure, within the proposed catchment area of such center, financial and professional assistance and support for the project;

(D) initiation and encouragement of continuing community involvement in the development and operation of the project; and

(E) proposed linkages between the center and other appropriate provider entities, such as health departments, local hospitals, and rural health clinics, to provide better coordinated, higher quality, and more cost-effective health care services.

(2) Limitation

(3) Recognition of high poverty

(A) In general

(B) High poverty area defined

(d) Improving quality of care

(1) Supplemental awardsThe Secretary may award supplemental grant funds to health centers funded under this section to implement evidence-based models for increasing access to high-quality primary care services, which may include models related to—

(A) improving the delivery of care for individuals with multiple chronic conditions;

(B) workforce configuration;

(D) enhancing care coordination;

(E) expanding the use of telehealth and technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models;

(F) care integration, including integration of behavioral health, mental health, or substance use disorder services;

(G) addressing emerging public health or substance use disorder issues to meet the health needs of the population served by the health center; and

(H) improving access to recommended immunizations.

(2) Sustainability

(3) Special consideration

(e) Operating grants

(1) Authority

(A) In general

(B) Entities that fail to meet certain requirements

(C) Operation of networksThe Secretary may make grants to health centers that receive assistance under this section, or at the request of the health centers, directly to a network that is at least majority controlled and, as applicable, at least majority owned by such health centers receiving assistance under this section, for the costs associated with the operation of such network including—

(i) the purchase or lease of equipment, which may include data and information systems (including the costs of amortizing the principal of, and paying the interest on, loans for equipment);

(ii) the provision of training and technical assistance; and

(iii) other activities that—(I) reduce costs associated with the provision of health services;(II) improve access to, and availability of, health services provided to individuals served by the centers;(III) enhance the quality and coordination of health services; or(IV) improve the health status of communities.

(2) Use of funds

(3) Construction

(4) Limitation

(5) Amount

(A) In generalThe amount of any grant made in any fiscal year under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) to a health center shall be determined by the Secretary, but may not exceed the amount by which the costs of operation of the center in such fiscal year exceed the total of—

(i) State, local, and other operational funding provided to the center; and

(ii) the fees, premiums, and third-party reimbursements, which the center may reasonably be expected to receive for its operations in such fiscal year.

(B) Networks

(D) Use of nongrant funds

(6) New access points and expanded services

(A) Approval of new access points

(i) In general

(ii) Special consideration

(iii) Consideration of applications

(iv) Service area overlap

(v) Mobile units

(B) Approval of expanded service applications

(i) In general

(ii) Priority expansion projects

(iii) Consideration of applications

(f) Infant mortality grants

(1) In generalThe Secretary may make grants to health centers for the purpose of assisting such centers in—

(A) providing comprehensive health care and support services for the reduction of—

(i) the incidence of infant mortality; and

(ii) morbidity among children who are less than 3 years of age; and

(B) developing and coordinating service and referral arrangements between health centers and other entities for the health management of pregnant women and children described in subparagraph (A).

(2) Priority

(3) RequirementsThe Secretary may make a grant under this subsection only if the health center involved agrees that—

(A) the center will coordinate the provision of services under the grant to each of the recipients of the services;

(B) such services will be continuous for each such recipient;

(C) the center will provide follow-up services for individuals who are referred by the center for services described in paragraph (1);

(D) the grant will be expended to supplement, and not supplant, the expenditures of the center for primary health services (including prenatal care) with respect to the purpose described in this subsection; and

(E) the center will coordinate the provision of services with other maternal and child health providers operating in the catchment area.

(g) Migratory and seasonal agricultural workers

(1) In generalThe Secretary may award grants for the purposes described in subsections (c), (e), and (f) for the planning and delivery of services to a special medically underserved population comprised of—

(A) migratory agricultural workers, seasonal agricultural workers, and members of the families of such migratory and seasonal agricultural workers who are within a designated catchment area; and

(B) individuals who have previously been migratory agricultural workers but who no longer meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) because of age or disability and members of the families of such individuals who are within such catchment area.

(2) Environmental concernsThe Secretary may enter into grants or contracts under this subsection with public and private entities to—

(A) assist the States in the implementation and enforcement of acceptable environmental health standards, including enforcement of standards for sanitation in migratory agricultural worker and seasonal agricultural worker labor camps, and applicable Federal and State pesticide control standards; and

(B) conduct projects and studies to assist the several States and entities which have received grants or contracts under this section in the assessment of problems related to camp and field sanitation, exposure to unsafe levels of agricultural chemicals including pesticides, and other environmental health hazards to which migratory agricultural workers and seasonal agricultural workers, and members of their families, are exposed.

(3) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection:

(A) Migratory agricultural worker

(B) Seasonal agricultural worker

(i) cultivation and tillage of the soil;

(ii) the production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any commodity grown on, in, or as an adjunct to or part of a commodity grown in or on, the land; and

(iii) any practice (including preparation and processing for market and delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market) performed by a farmer or on a farm incident to or in conjunction with an activity described in clause (ii).

(h) Homeless population

(1) In general

(2) Required services

(3) Supplement not supplant requirement

(4) Temporary continued provision of services to certain former homeless individuals

(5) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:

(A) Homeless individual

(B) Substance use disorder services

(i) Residents of public housing

(1) In general

(2) Supplement not supplant

(3) Consultation with residentsThe Secretary may not make a grant under paragraph (1) unless, with respect to the residents of the public housing involved, the applicant for the grant—

(A) has consulted with the residents in the preparation of the application for the grant; and

(B) agrees to provide for ongoing consultation with the residents regarding the planning and administration of the program carried out with the grant.

(j) Access grants

(1) In general

(2) Eligible health centerIn this subsection, the term “eligible health center” means an entity that—

(A) is a health center as defined under subsection (a);

(B) provides health care services for clients for whom English is a second language; and

(C) has exceptional needs with respect to linguistic access or faces exceptional challenges with respect to linguistic access.

(3) Grant amount

(4) Use of fundsAn eligible health center that receives a grant under this subsection may use funds received through such grant to—

(A) provide translation, interpretation, and other such services for clients for whom English is a second language, including hiring professional translation and interpretation services; and

(B) compensate bilingual or multilingual staff for language assistance services provided by the staff for such clients.

(5) ApplicationAn eligible health center desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including—

(A) an estimate of the number of clients that the center serves for whom English is a second language;

(B) the ratio of the number of clients for whom English is a second language to the total number of clients served by the center;

(C) a description of any language assistance services that the center proposes to provide to aid clients for whom English is a second language; and

(D) a description of the exceptional needs of such center with respect to linguistic access or a description of the exceptional challenges faced by such center with respect to linguistic access.

(6) Authorization of appropriations

(k) Applications

(1) Submission

(2) Description of unmet needAn application for a grant under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (e)(1) or subsection (e)(6) for a health center shall include—

(A) a description of the unmet need for health services in the catchment area of the center;

(B) a demonstration by the applicant that the area or the population group to be served by the applicant has a shortage of personal health services;

(C) a demonstration that the center will be located so that it will provide services to the greatest number of individuals residing in the catchment area or included in such population group; and

(D) in the case of an application for a grant pursuant to subsection (e)(6), a demonstration that the applicant has consulted with appropriate State and local government agencies, and health care providers regarding the need for the health services to be provided at the proposed delivery site.

Such a demonstration shall be made on the basis of the criteria prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (b)(3) or on any other criteria which the Secretary may prescribe to determine if the area or population group to be served by the applicant has a shortage of personal health services. In considering an application for a grant under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (e)(1), the Secretary may require as a condition to the approval of such application an assurance that the applicant will provide any health service defined under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) that the Secretary finds is needed to meet specific health needs of the area to be served by the applicant. Such a finding shall be made in writing and a copy shall be provided to the applicant.

(3) RequirementsExcept as provided in subsection (e)(1)(B) or subsection (e)(6), the Secretary may not approve an application for a grant under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (e)(1) unless the Secretary determines that the entity for which the application is submitted is a health center (within the meaning of subsection (a)) and that—

(A) the required primary health services of the center will be available and accessible in the catchment area of the center promptly, as appropriate, and in a manner which assures continuity;

(B) the center has made and will continue to make every reasonable effort to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other health care providers, including other health care providers that provide care within the catchment area, local hospitals, and specialty providers in the catchment area of the center, to provide access to services not available through the health center and to reduce the non-urgent use of hospital emergency departments;

(C) the center will have an ongoing quality improvement system that includes clinical services and management, and that maintains the confidentiality of patient records;

(D) the center will demonstrate its financial responsibility by the use of such accounting procedures and other requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary;

(E) the center—

(i)(I) has or will have a contractual or other arrangement with the agency of the State, in which it provides services, which administers or supervises the administration of a State plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.] for the payment of all or a part of the center’s costs in providing health services to persons who are eligible for medical assistance under such a State plan; and(II) has or will have a contractual or other arrangement with the State agency administering the program under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) with respect to individuals who are State children’s health insurance program beneficiaries; or

(ii) has made or will make every reasonable effort to enter into arrangements described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i);

(F) the center has made or will make and will continue to make every reasonable effort to collect appropriate reimbursement for its costs in providing health services to persons who are entitled to insurance benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.], to medical assistance under a State plan approved under title XIX of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.], or to assistance for medical expenses under any other public assistance program or private health insurance program;

(G) the center—

(i) has prepared a schedule of fees or payments for the provision of its services consistent with locally prevailing rates or charges and designed to cover its reasonable costs of operation and has prepared a corresponding schedule of discounts to be applied to the payment of such fees or payments, which discounts are adjusted on the basis of the patient’s ability to pay;

(ii) has made and will continue to make every reasonable effort—(I) to secure from patients payment for services in accordance with such schedules; and(II) to collect reimbursement for health services to persons described in subparagraph (F) on the basis of the full amount of fees and payments for such services without application of any discount;

(iii)(I) will assure that no patient will be denied health care services due to an individual’s inability to pay for such services; and(II) will assure that any fees or payments required by the center for such services will be reduced or waived to enable the center to fulfill the assurance described in subclause (I); and

(iv) has submitted to the Secretary such reports as the Secretary may require to determine compliance with this subparagraph;

(H) the center has established a governing board which except in the case of an entity operated by an Indian tribe or tribal or Indian organization under the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.] or an urban Indian organization under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.)—

(i) is composed of individuals, a majority of whom are being served by the center and who, as a group, represent the individuals being served by the center;

(ii) meets at least once a month, selects the services to be provided by the center, schedules the hours during which such services will be provided, approves the center’s annual budget, approves the selection of a director for the center who shall be directly employed by the center, and, except in the case of a governing board of a public center (as defined in the second sentence of this paragraph), establishes general policies for the center; and

(iii) in the case of an application for a second or subsequent grant for a public center, has approved the application or if the governing body has not approved the application, the failure of the governing body to approve the application was unreasonable;

except that, upon a showing of good cause the Secretary shall waive, for the length of the project period, all or part of the requirements of this subparagraph in the case of a health center that receives a grant pursuant to subsection (g), (h), (i), or (p);

(I) the center has developed—

(i) an overall plan and budget that meets the requirements of the Secretary; and

(ii) an effective procedure for compiling and reporting to the Secretary such statistics and other information as the Secretary may require relating to—(I) the costs of its operations;(II) the patterns of use of its services;(III) the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of its services; and(IV) such other matters relating to operations of the applicant as the Secretary may require;

(J) the center will review periodically its catchment area to—

(i) ensure that the size of such area is such that the services to be provided through the center (including any satellite) are available and accessible to the residents of the area promptly and as appropriate;

(ii) ensure that the boundaries of such area conform, to the extent practicable, to relevant boundaries of political subdivisions, school districts, and Federal and State health and social service programs; and

(iii) ensure that the boundaries of such area eliminate, to the extent possible, barriers to access to the services of the center, including barriers resulting from the area’s physical characteristics, its residential patterns, its economic and social grouping, and available transportation;

(K) in the case of a center which serves a population including a substantial proportion of individuals of limited English-speaking ability, the center has—

(i) developed a plan and made arrangements responsive to the needs of such population for providing services to the extent practicable in the language and cultural context most appropriate to such individuals; and

(ii) identified an individual on its staff who is fluent in both that language and in English and whose responsibilities shall include providing guidance to such individuals and to appropriate staff members with respect to cultural sensitivities and bridging linguistic and cultural differences;

(L) the center, has developed an ongoing referral relationship with one or more hospitals;

(M) the center encourages persons receiving or seeking health services from the center to participate in any public or private (including employer-offered) health programs or plans for which the persons are eligible, so long as the center, in complying with this subparagraph, does not violate the requirements of subparagraph (G)(iii)(I); and

(N) the center has written policies and procedures in place to ensure the appropriate use of Federal funds in compliance with applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

For purposes of subparagraph (H), the term “public center” means a health center funded (or to be funded) through a grant under this section to a public agency.

(l) Technical assistance

(m) Memorandum of agreementIn carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into a memorandum of agreement with a State. Such memorandum may include, where appropriate, provisions permitting such State to—

(1) analyze the need for primary health services for medically underserved populations within such State;

(2) assist in the planning and development of new health centers;

(3) review and comment upon annual program plans and budgets of health centers, including comments upon allocations of health care resources in the State;

(4) assist health centers in the development of clinical practices and fiscal and administrative systems through a technical assistance plan which is responsive to the requests of health centers; and

(5) share information and data relevant to the operation of new and existing health centers.

(n) Records

(1) In general

(2) Availability

(o) Delegation of authority

(p) Special consideration

(q) Audits

(1) In generalEach entity which receives a grant under this section shall provide for an independent annual financial audit of any books, accounts, financial records, files, and other papers and property which relate to the disposition or use of the funds received under such grant and such other funds received by or allocated to the project for which such grant was made. For purposes of assuring accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the disposition or use of the funds received, each such audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Each audit shall evaluate—

(A) the entity’s implementation of the guidelines established by the Secretary respecting cost accounting,

(B) the processes used by the entity to meet the financial and program reporting requirements of the Secretary, and

(C) the billing and collection procedures of the entity and the relation of the procedures to its fee schedule and schedule of discounts and to the availability of health insurance and public programs to pay for the health services it provides.

A report of each such audit shall be filed with the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.

(2) Records

(3) Availability of records

(4) Waiver

(r) Authorization of appropriations

(1) General amounts for grantsFor the purpose of carrying out this section, in addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (d), there is authorized to be appropriated the following:

(A) For fiscal year 2010, $2,988,821,592.

(B) For fiscal year 2011, $3,862,107,440.

(D) For fiscal year 2013, $6,448,713,307.

(E) For fiscal year 2014, $7,332,924,155.

(F) For fiscal year 2015, $8,332,924,155.

(G) For fiscal year 2016, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of—

(i) one plus the average percentage increase in costs incurred per patient served; and

(ii) one plus the average percentage increase in the total number of patients served.

(2) Special provisions

(A) Public centers

(B) Distribution of grants

(3) Funding reportThe Secretary shall annually 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, a report including, at a minimum—

(A) the distribution of funds for carrying out this section that are provided to meet the health care needs of medically underserved populations, including the homeless, residents of public housing, and migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, and the appropriateness of the delivery systems involved in responding to the needs of the particular populations;

(B) an assessment of the relative health care access needs of the targeted populations;

(D) the distribution of awards and funding for establishing new access points, and the number of new access points created;

(E) the amount of unexpended funding for loan guarantees and loan guarantee authority under subchapter XIV;

(F) the rationale for any substantial changes in the distribution of funds;

(G) the rate of closures for health centers and access points;

(H) the number and reason for any grants awarded pursuant to subsection (e)(1)(B); and

(I) the number and reason for any waivers provided pursuant to subsection (q)(4).

(4) Rule of construction with respect to rural health clinics

(A) In general

(B) AssurancesIn order for a clinic or hospital to receive funds under this section through a contract with a community health center under subparagraph (A), such clinic or hospital shall establish policies to ensure—

(i) nondiscrimination based on the ability of a patient to pay; and

(ii) the establishment of a sliding fee scale for low-income patients.

(5) Funding for participation of health centers in All of Us Research Program

(6) Additional amounts for supplemental awards

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330, as added Pub. L. 104–299, § 2, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3626; amended Pub. L. 107–251, title I, § 101, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1622; Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2020; Pub. L. 110–355, § 2(a), (c)(1), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 3988, 3992; Pub. L. 111–148, title IV, § 4206, title V, § 5601, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 576, 676; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title IX, § 50901(b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 283; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3211(a), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 368; Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 311(c), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2925; Pub. L. 117–204, § 2(a), Oct. 17, 2022, 136 Stat. 2231.)

§ 254b–1. State grants to health care providers who provide services to a high percentage of medically underserved populations or other special populations

(a) In general

(b) Source of funds

(Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5606, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10501(k), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 999.)

§ 254b–2. Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund

(a) Purpose

(b) FundingThere is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the CHC Fund—

(1) to be transferred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide enhanced funding for the community health center program under section 254b of this title—

(A) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

(B) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

(D) $2,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;

(E) $3,600,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017; and

(F) $3,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, $526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $3,592,328,767 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023,1

1 So in original.

and ending on December 31, 2024; and

(2) to be transferred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide enhanced funding for the National Health Service Corps—

(A) $290,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

(B) $295,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

(D) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;

(E) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017;

(F) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019;

(G) $310,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;

(H) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023; and

(I) $40,767,123 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $53,506,849 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $41,616,438 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $297,013,699 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023,1 and ending on December 31, 2024.

(d) Use of fund

(e) Availability

(Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10503, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 1004; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2303, Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 114–10, title II, § 221(a), Apr. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 154; Pub. L. 115–96, div. C, title I, § 3101(a), (b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2048; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title IX, § 50901(a), (c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 282, 287; Pub. L. 116–59, div. B, title I, § 1101(a), (b), Sept. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1102; Pub. L. 116–69, div. B, title I, § 1101(a), (b), Nov. 21, 2019, 133 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 401(a), (b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3113; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3831(a), (b), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 116–159, div. C, title I, § 2101(a), (b), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 728; Pub. L. 116–215, div. B, title II, § 1201(a), (b), Dec. 11, 2020, 134 Stat. 1044; Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 301(a), (b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2922; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title III, § 2321(b), (c), Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 94, 95; Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title II, § 201(b), (c), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 119, 120; Pub. L. 118–35, div. B, title I, § 101(b), (c), Jan. 19, 2024, 138 Stat. 4; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title I, § 101(a), (b), Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 397.)

§ 254c. Rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs

(a) Purpose

(b) Definitions

(1) Director

(2) Federally qualified health center; rural health clinic

(3) Health professional shortage area

(4) Medically underserved community

(5) Medically underserved population

(d) Administration

(1) Programs

(2) Grants

(A) In general

(B) Types of grantsThe Director may award the grants to—

(i) promote expanded delivery of health care services in rural areas under subsection (e);

(ii) provide for the planning and implementation of integrated health care networks in rural areas under subsection (f); and

(iii) provide for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities under subsection (g).

(e) Rural health care services outreach grants

(1) Grants

(2) EligibilityTo be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection for a project, an entity shall—

(A) be an entity with demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations;

(B) represent a consortium composed of members that—

(i) include 3 or more health care providers; and

(ii) may be nonprofit or for-profit entities; and

(C) not previously have received a grant under this subsection for the same or a similar project, unless the entity is proposing to expand the scope of the project or the area that will be served through the project.

(3) ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity, shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(A) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided under the grant;

(B) a description of the manner in which the project funded under the grant will meet the health care needs of rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served;

(C) a description of how the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the project;

(D) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;

(E) a description of how the project will be evaluated; and

(F) other such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(f) Rural health network development grants

(1) Grants

(A) In generalThe Director may award rural health network development grants to eligible entities to plan, develop, and implement integrated health care networks that collaborate in order to—

(i) achieve efficiencies;

(ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes; and

(iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.

(B) Grant periods

(2) EligibilityTo be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall—

(A) be an entity with demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations;

(B) represent a network composed of participants that—

(i) include 3 or more health care providers; and

(ii) may be nonprofit or for-profit entities; and

(C) not previously have received a grant under this subsection (other than a grant for planning activities) for the same or a similar project.

(A) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided under the grant;

(B) an explanation of the reasons why Federal assistance is required to carry out the project;

(i) the history of collaborative activities carried out by the participants in the network;

(ii) the degree to which the participants are ready to integrate their functions; and

(iii) how the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served will benefit from and be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the network;

(D) a description of how the rural underserved populations in the local community or region to be served will experience increased access to quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result of the integration activities carried out by the network;

(E) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;

(F) a description of how the project will be evaluated; and

(G) other such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(g) Small health care provider quality improvement grants

(1) Grants

(2) EligibilityTo be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall—

(A)

(i) be a rural public or rural nonprofit private health care provider or provider of health care services, such as a critical access hospital or a rural health clinic; or

(ii) be another rural provider or network of small rural providers identified by the Secretary as a key source of local or regional care; and

(B) not previously have received a grant under this subsection for the same or a similar project.

(3) ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(A) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided under the grant;

(B) an explanation of the reasons why Federal assistance is required to carry out the project;

(C) a description of the manner in which the project funded under the grant will assure continuous quality improvement in the provision of services by the entity;

(E) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;

(F) a description of how the project will be evaluated; and

(G) other such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(4) Expenditures for small health care provider quality improvement grants

(h) General requirements

(1) Prohibited uses of fundsAn entity that receives a grant under this section may not use funds provided through the grant—

(A) to build or acquire real property; or

(B) for construction.

(2) Coordination with other agencies

(3) PreferenceIn awarding grants under this section, the Secretary, as appropriate, shall give preference to entities that—

(A) are located in health professional shortage areas or medically underserved communities, or serve medically underserved populations; or

(B) propose to develop projects with a focus on primary care, and wellness and prevention strategies.

(i) Report

(j) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330A, as added Pub. L. 104–299, § 3(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3642; amended Pub. L. 107–251, title II, § 201, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1628; Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(b), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2021; Pub. L. 110–355, § 4, Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 3994; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3213, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 370.)

§ 254c–1. Grants for health services for Pacific Islanders

(a) Grants

(b) Use of grants or contractsGrants or contracts made or entered into under subsection (a) shall be used, among other items—

(1) to continue, as a priority, the medical officer training program in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia;

(2) to improve the quality and availability of health and mental health services and systems, with an emphasis therein on preventive health services and health promotion programs and projects, including improved health data systems;

(3) to improve the quality and availability of health manpower, including programs and projects to train new and upgrade the skills of existing health professionals by—

(A) establishing dental officer, dental assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse clinical specialist training programs;

(B) providing technical training of new auxiliary health workers;

(D) developing long-term plans for meeting health profession needs;

(E) developing or improving programs for faculty enhancement or post-doctoral training; and

(F) providing innovative health professions training initiatives (including scholarships) targeted toward ensuring that residents of the Pacific Basin attend and graduate from recognized health professional programs;

(4) to improve the quality of health services, including laboratory, x-ray, and pharmacy, provided in ambulatory and inpatient settings through quality assurance, standard setting, and other culturally appropriate means;

(5) to improve facility and equipment repair and maintenance systems;

(6) to improve alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health prevention and treatment services and systems;

(7) to improve local and regional health planning systems; and

(8) to improve basic local public health systems, with particular attention to primary care and services to those most in need.

No funds under subsection (b) shall be used for capital construction.

(c) Advisory CouncilThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a “Pacific Health Advisory Council” which shall consist of 12 members and shall include—

(1) the Directors of the Health Departments for the entities identified in subsection (a); and

(2) 6 members, including a representative of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, representing organizations in the State of Hawaii actively involved in the provision of health services or technical assistance to the entities identified in subsection (a). The Secretary shall solicit the advice of the Governor of the State of Hawaii in appointing the 5 Council members in addition to the representative of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific from the State of Hawaii.

The Secretary shall be responsible for providing sufficient staff support to the Council.

(d) Advisory Council functionsThe Council shall meet at least annually to—

(1) recommend priority areas of need for funding by the Public Health Service under this section; and

(2) review progress in addressing priority areas and make recommendations to the Secretary for needed program modifications.

(e) Omitted

(f) Authorization of appropriation

(Pub. L. 101–527, § 10, Nov. 6, 1990, 104 Stat. 2333.)

§ 254c–1a. Grants to nurse-managed health clinics

(a) Definitions

(1) Comprehensive primary health care services

(2) Nurse-managed health clinic

(b) Authority to award grants

(1) be an NMHC; and

(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing—

(A) assurances that nurses are the major providers of services at the NMHC and that at least 1 advanced practice nurse holds an executive management position within the organizational structure of the NMHC;

(B) an assurance that the NMHC will continue providing comprehensive primary health care services or wellness services without regard to income or insurance status of the patient for the duration of the grant period; and

(C) an assurance that, not later than 90 days of receiving a grant under this section, the NMHC will establish a community advisory committee, for which a majority of the members shall be individuals who are served by the NMHC.

(d) Grant amountThe amount of any grant made under this section for any fiscal year shall be determined by the Secretary, taking into account—

(1) the financial need of the NMHC, considering State, local, and other operational funding provided to the NMHC; and

(2) other factors, as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330A–1, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5208(b), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 613.)

§ 254c–1b. Rural obstetric network grants

(a) Program established

(b) Use of funds

Grants or cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to this section shall be used for the establishment or continuation of collaborative improvement and innovation networks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services in rural areas. Rural obstetric networks established in accordance with this section may—

(1) develop a network to improve coordination and increase access to maternal health care and assist pregnant women in the areas described in subsection (a) with accessing and utilizing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services to improve outcomes in birth and maternal mortality and morbidity;

(2) identify and implement evidence-based and sustainable delivery models for providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, including home visiting programs and culturally appropriate care models that reduce health disparities;

(3) develop a model for maternal health care collaboration between health care settings to improve access to care in areas described in subsection (a), which may include the use of telehealth;

(4) provide training for professionals in health care settings that do not have specialty maternity care;

(5) collaborate with academic institutions that can provide regional expertise and help identify barriers to providing maternal health care, including strategies for addressing such barriers; and

(6) assess and address disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes, including among racial and ethnic minority populations and underserved populations in such areas described in subsection (a).

In this section:

(1) Eligible entities

(2) Frontier area

(3) Indian Tribes; Tribal organization

(4) Maternity care health professional target area

(d) Report to Congress

Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on activities supported by grants awarded under this section, including—

(1) a description of activities conducted pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b); and

(2) an analysis of the effects of rural obstetric networks on improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330A–2, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 142, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 798.)

§ 254c–2. Special diabetes programs for type I diabetes

(a) In general

(b) Funding

(1) Transferred funds

(2) Appropriations

For the purpose of making grants under this section, there is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—

(A) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (which shall be combined with amounts transferred under paragraph (1) for each such fiscal years);

(B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;

(D) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023, to remain available until expended; and

(E) $19,726,027 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $25,890,411 for the period beginning on

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330B, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4921, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 574; amended Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1604(f)(1)(B), (C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1098; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title IX, § 931(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–585; Pub. L. 107–360, § 1(a), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 3019; Pub. L. 110–173, title III, § 302(a), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2514; Pub. L. 110–275, title III, § 303(a), July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2594; Pub. L. 111–309, title I, § 112(1), Dec. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3289; Pub. L. 112–240, title VI, § 625(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2352; Pub. L. 113–93, title II, § 204(a), Apr. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1046; Pub. L. 114–10, title II, § 213(a), Apr. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 152; Pub. L. 115–96, div. C, title I, § 3102(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2049; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title IX, § 50902(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 289; Pub. L. 116–59, div. B, title I, § 1102(a), Sept. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1103; Pub. L. 116–69, div. B, title I, § 1102(a), Nov. 21, 2019, 133 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 402(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3114; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3832(a), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 116–159, div. C, title I, § 2102(a), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 116–215, div. B, title II, § 1202(a), Dec. 11, 2020, 134 Stat. 1044; Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 302(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2923; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title III, § 2322(a), Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title II, § 202(a), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 120; Pub. L. 118–35, div. B, title I, § 102(a), Jan. 19, 2024, 138 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title I, § 102(a), Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 398.)

§ 254c–3. Special diabetes programs for Indians

(a) In general

(b) Services through Indian health facilities

For purposes of subsection (a), services under such subsection are provided in accordance with this subsection if the services are provided through any of the following entities:

(1) The Indian Health Service.

(2) An Indian health program operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization pursuant to a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or compact with the Indian Health Service pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.].

(3) An urban Indian health program operated by an urban Indian organization pursuant to a grant or contract with the Indian Health Service pursuant to title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [25 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.].

(1) Transferred funds

(2) Appropriations

For the purpose of making grants under this section, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—

(A) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (which shall be combined with amounts transferred under paragraph (1) for each such fiscal years);

(B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;

(D) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023, to remain available until expended; and

(E) $19,726,027 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $25,890,411 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $20,136,986 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $130,000,000 for the period beginning on March 9, 2024, and ending on December 31, 2024, to remain available until expended.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330C, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4922, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 574; amended Pub. L. 105–174, title III, § 3001, May 1, 1998, 112 Stat. 82; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title IX, § 931(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–585; Pub. L. 107–360, § 1(b), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 3019; Pub. L. 110–173, title III, § 302(b), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2515; Pub. L. 110–275, title III, § 303(b), July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2594; Pub. L. 111–309, title I, § 112(2), Dec. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3289; Pub. L. 112–240, title VI, § 625(b), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2353; Pub. L. 113–93, title II, § 204(b), Apr. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1046; Pub. L. 114–10, title II, § 213(b), Apr. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 152; Pub. L. 115–63, title III, § 301(b), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 115–96, div. C, title I, § 3102(b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2049; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title IX, § 50902(b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 289; Pub. L. 116–59, div. B, title I, § 1102(b), Sept. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1103; Pub. L. 116–69, div. B, title I, § 1102(b), Nov. 21, 2019, 133 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 402(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3114; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3832(b), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 116–159, div. C, title I, § 2102(b), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 116–215, div. B, title II, § 1202(b), Dec. 11, 2020, 134 Stat. 1045; Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 302(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2923; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title III, § 2322(b), Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title II, § 202(b), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 120; Pub. L. 118–35, div. B, title I, § 102(b), Jan. 19, 2024, 138 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title I, § 102(b), Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 398.)

§ 254c–4. Repealed. Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2201(a)(2), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5729

§ 254c–5. Epilepsy; seizure disorder

(a) National public health campaign

(1) In general

(2) Certain activities

Activities under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) expanding current surveillance activities through existing monitoring systems and improving registries that maintain data on individuals with epilepsy, including children;

(B) enhancing research activities on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of epilepsy;

(C) implementing public and professional information and education programs regarding epilepsy, including initiatives which promote effective management of the disease through children’s programs which are targeted to parents, schools, daycare providers, patients;

(D) undertaking educational efforts with the media, providers of health care, schools and others regarding stigmas and secondary disabilities related to epilepsy and seizures, and its effects on youth;

(E) utilizing and expanding partnerships with organizations with experience addressing the health and related needs of people with disabilities; and

(F) other activities the Secretary deems appropriate.

(3) Coordination of activities

(b) Seizure disorder; demonstration projects in medically underserved areas

(1) In general

(2) Application for grant

For purposes of this section:

(1) The term “epilepsy” refers to a chronic and serious neurological condition characterized by excessive electrical discharges in the brain causing recurring seizures affecting all life activities. The Secretary may revise the definition of such term to the extent the Secretary determines necessary.

(2) The term “medically underserved” has the meaning applicable under section 295p(6) of this title.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330E, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title VIII, § 801, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1124.)

§ 254c–6. Certain services for pregnant women

(a) Infant adoption awareness

(1) In general

(2) Best-practices guidelines

(A) In general

(B) Process for development of guidelines

(i) In generalThe Secretary shall establish and supervise a process described in clause (ii) in which the participants are—(I) an appropriate number and variety of adoption organizations that, as a group, have expertise in all models of adoption practice and that represent all members of the adoption triad (birth mother, infant, and adoptive parent); and(II) affected public health entities.

(ii) Description of process

(iii) Date certain for development

(3) Use of grant

(A) In generalWith respect to a grant under paragraph (1)—

(i) an adoption organization may expend the grant to carry out the programs directly or through grants to or contracts with other adoption organizations;

(ii) the purposes for which the adoption organization expends the grant may include the development of a training curriculum, consistent with the guidelines developed under paragraph (2)(B); and

(iii) a condition for the receipt of the grant is that the adoption organization agree that, in providing training for the designated staff of eligible health centers, such organization will make reasonable efforts to ensure that the individuals who provide the training are individuals who are knowledgeable in all elements of the adoption process and are experienced in providing adoption information and referrals in the geographic areas in which the eligible health centers are located, and that the designated staff receive the training in such areas.

(B) Rule of construction regarding training of trainers

(4) Adoption organizations; eligible health centers; other definitionsFor purposes of this section:

(A) The term “adoption organization” means a national, regional, or local organization—

(i) among whose primary purposes are adoption;

(ii) that is knowledgeable in all elements of the adoption process and on providing adoption information and referrals to pregnant women; and

(iii) that is a nonprofit private entity.

(B) The term “designated staff”, with respect to an eligible health center, means staff of the center who provide pregnancy or adoption information and referrals (or will provide such information and referrals after receiving training under a grant under paragraph (1)).

(C) The term “eligible health centers” means public and nonprofit private entities that provide health services to pregnant women.

(5) Training for certain eligible health centersA condition for the receipt of a grant under paragraph (1) is that the adoption organization involved agree to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the eligible health centers with respect to which training under the grant is provided include—

(A) eligible health centers that receive grants under section 300 of this title (relating to voluntary family planning projects);

(B) eligible health centers that receive grants under section 254b of this title (relating to community health centers, migrant health centers, and centers regarding homeless individuals and residents of public housing); and

(6) Participation of certain eligible health clinicsIn the case of eligible health centers that receive grants under section 254b or 300 of this title:

(A) Within a reasonable period after the Secretary begins making grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide eligible health centers with complete information about the training available from organizations receiving grants under such paragraph. The Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to encourage eligible health centers to arrange for designated staff to participate in such training. Such efforts shall affirm Federal requirements, if any, that the eligible health center provide nondirective counseling to pregnant women.

(B) All costs of such centers in obtaining the training shall be reimbursed by the organization that provides the training, using grants under paragraph (1).

(C) Not later than 1 year after October 17, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report evaluating the extent to which adoption information and referral, upon request, are provided by eligible health centers. Within a reasonable time after training under this section is initiated, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report evaluating the extent to which adoption information and referral, upon request, are provided by eligible health centers in order to determine the effectiveness of such training and the extent to which such training complies with subsection (a)(1). In preparing the reports required by this subparagraph, the Secretary shall in no respect interpret the provisions of this section to allow any interference in the provider-patient relationship, any breach of patient confidentiality, or any monitoring or auditing of the counseling process or patient records which breaches patient confidentiality or reveals patient identity. The reports required by this subparagraph shall be conducted by the Secretary acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and in collaboration with the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

(b) Application for grant

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330F, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XII, § 1201, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1132.)

§ 254c–7. Special needs adoption programs; public awareness campaign and other activities

(a) Special needs adoption awareness campaign

(1) In general

(2) Input on planning and development

(3) Certain featuresWith respect to the national campaign under paragraph (1):

(A) The campaign shall be directed at various populations, taking into account as appropriate differences among geographic regions, and shall be carried out in the language and cultural context that is most appropriate to the population involved.

(B) The means through which the campaign may be carried out include—

(i) placing public service announcements on television, radio, and billboards; and

(ii) providing information through means that the Secretary determines will reach individuals who are most likely to adopt children with special needs.

(C) The campaign shall provide information on the subsidies and supports that are available to individuals regarding the adoption of children with special needs.

(D) The Secretary may provide that the placement of public service announcements, and the dissemination of brochures and other materials, is subject to review by the Secretary.

(4) Matching requirement

(A) In general

(B) Determination of amount contributed

(b) National resources programThe Secretary shall (directly or through grant or contract) carry out a program that, through toll-free telecommunications, makes available to the public information regarding the adoption of children with special needs. Such information shall include the following:

(1) A list of national, State, and regional organizations that provide services regarding such adoptions, including exchanges and other information on communicating with the organizations. The list shall represent the full national diversity of adoption organizations.

(2) Information beneficial to individuals who adopt such children, including lists of support groups for adoptive parents and other postadoptive services.

(1) to provide assistance to support groups for adoptive parents, adopted children, and siblings of adopted children; and

(2) to carry out studies to identify—

(A) the barriers to completion of the adoption process; and

(B) those components that lead to favorable long-term outcomes for families that adopt children with special needs.

(d) Application for grant

(e) Funding

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330G, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XII, § 1211, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1135.)

§ 254c–8. Healthy start for infants

(a) In general

(1) Continuation and expansion of program

(2) Definition

(b) Considerations in making grants

(1) Requirements

(2) Other considerationsIn making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the following:

(A) Factors that contribute to infant mortality, including poor birth outcomes (such as low birthweight and preterm birth) and social determinants of health.

(B) Communities with—

(i) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes; or

(ii) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes in specific subpopulations within the community.

(i) collaboration with the local community in the development of the project;

(ii) a community-based approach to the delivery of services;

(iii) a comprehensive approach to women’s health care to improve perinatal outcomes; and

(iv) the use and collection of data demonstrating the effectiveness of such program in decreasing infant mortality rates and improving perinatal outcomes, as applicable, or the process by which new applicants plan to collect this data.

(3) Special projects

(1) In general

(2) Other programs

(d) Rule of construction

(e) Funding

(1) Authorization of appropriations

(2) Allocation

(A) Program administration

(B) EvaluationOf the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve up to 1 percent for evaluations of projects carried out under subsection (a). Each such evaluation shall include a determination of whether such projects have been effective in reducing the disparity in health status between the general population and individuals who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. Evaluations may also include, to the extent practicable, information related to—

(i) progress toward achieving any grant metrics or outcomes related to reducing infant mortality rates, improving perinatal outcomes, or reducing the disparity in health status;

(ii) recommendations on potential improvements that may assist with addressing gaps, as applicable and appropriate; and

(iii) the extent to which the grantee coordinated with the community in which the grantee is located in the development of the project and delivery of services, including with respect to technical assistance and mentorship programs.

(f) GAO report

(1) In general

(2) Evaluation

(3) ReportThe report described in paragraph (1) shall review, assess, and provide recommendations, as appropriate, on the following:

(A) The allocation of Healthy Start program grants by the Health Resources and Services Administration, including considerations made by such Administration regarding disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes among urban and rural areas in making such awards.

(B) Trends in the progress made toward meeting the evaluation criteria pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(B), including programs which decrease infant mortality rates and improve perinatal outcomes, programs that have not decreased infant mortality rates or improved perinatal outcomes, and programs that have made an impact on disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes.

(C) The ability of grantees to improve health outcomes for project participants, promote the awareness of the Healthy Start program services, incorporate and promote family participation, facilitate coordination with the community in which the grantee is located, and increase grantee accountability through quality improvement, performance monitoring, evaluation, and the effect such metrics may have toward decreasing the rate of infant mortality and improving perinatal outcomes.

(D) The extent to which such Federal programs are coordinated across agencies and the identification of opportunities for improved coordination in such Federal programs and activities.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330H, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XV, § 1501, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1146; amended Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 110–339, § 2, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3733; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3225, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 381.)

§ 254c–9. Establishment of program of grants

(a) In general

(b) Recipients of grants

To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a) provide services for the diagnosis and disease management of lupus. Activities that the Secretary may authorize for such projects may also include the following:

(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient, ambulatory, and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services, for individuals with lupus; and delivering or enhancing support services for their families.

(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management services that prevent unnecessary hospitalization or that expedite discharge, as medically appropriate, from inpatient facilities of individuals with lupus.

(3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization of health care and support services (including transportation services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for individuals with lupus and support services for their families.

(d) Integration with other programs

(Pub. L. 106–505, title V, § 521, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2343.)

§ 254c–10. Certain requirementsA grant may be made under section 254c–9 of this title only if the applicant involved makes the following agreements:

(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight functions.

(2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant funds from other sources related to the treatment of lupus.

(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on the financial circumstances of the individual receiving services.

(4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for services authorized under section 254c–9(a) of this title to the extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with respect to such services—

(A) under any State compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health benefits program; or

(B) by an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.

(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant provides services under section 254c–9(a) of this title, post a conspicuous notice informing individuals who receive the services of any Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to the imposition of charges on such individuals.

(Pub. L. 106–505, title V, § 522, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2344.)

§ 254c–11. Technical assistance

The Secretary may provide technical assistance to assist entities in complying with the requirements of sections 254c–9 to 254c–13 of this title in order to make such entities eligible to receive grants under section 254c–9 of this title.

(Pub. L. 106–505, title V, § 523, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2344.)

§ 254c–12. Definitions

For purposes of sections 254c–9 to 254c–13 of this title:

(1) Official poverty line

(2) Secretary

(Pub. L. 106–505, title V, § 524, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2344.)

§ 254c–13. Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out sections 254c–9 to 254c–13 of this title, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2003.

(Pub. L. 106–505, title V, § 525, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2345.)

§ 254c–14. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Director; Office

(2) Federally qualified health center and rural health clinic

(3) Frontier community

(4) Medically underserved area

(5) Medically underserved population

(6) Telehealth services

(7) Telehealth technologies

(b) Programs

(1) Establishment

(2) Duties

(d) Grants

(1) Telehealth network grantsThe Director may, in carrying out the telehealth network grant program referred to in subsection (b), award grants to eligible entities for evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks in rural areas, frontier communities, and medically underserved areas, and for medically underserved populations, to—

(A) expand access to, coordinate, and improve access to, and the quality of, health care services; and

(B) expand and improve the quality of health information available to health care providers,,1

1 So in original.

patients, and their families.

(2) Telehealth resource centers grants

(e) Grant periods

(f) Eligible entities

(1) In general

(2) Nature of entities

(3) Composition of networkThe telehealth network shall include at least 2 of the following entities (at least 1 of which shall be a community-based health care provider):

(A) Community or migrant health centers or other Federally qualified health centers.

(B) Health care providers, including pharmacists, in private practice.

(D) Local health departments.

(E) Nonprofit hospitals, including community access hospitals.

(F) Other publicly funded health or social service agencies.

(G) Long-term care providers.

(H) Providers of health care services in the home.

(I) Providers of outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services and entities operating outpatient mental health and substance use disorder facilities.

(J) Local or regional emergency health care providers.

(K) Institutions of higher education.

(L) Entities operating dental clinics.

(M) Providers of prenatal, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, including hospitals that operate obstetric care units.

(g) ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d), an eligible entity, in consultation with the appropriate State office of rural health or another appropriate State entity, shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(1) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided under the grant;

(2) a description of the manner in which the project funded under the grant will meet the health care needs of rural or other populations to be served through the project, and improve the access to services of, and the quality of the services received by, those populations;

(3) evidence of local support for the project, and a description of how the areas, communities, or populations to be served will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the project;

(4) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal support for the project has ended;

(5) information on the source and amount of non-Federal funds that the entity will provide for the project;

(6) information demonstrating the long-term viability of the project, and other evidence of institutional commitment of the entity to the project;

(7) in the case of an application for a project involving a telehealth network, information demonstrating how the project will promote the integration of telehealth technologies into the operations of health care providers, to avoid redundancy, and improve access to and the quality of care; and

(8) other such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(h) Preferences

(1) Telehealth networksIn awarding grants under subsection (d)(1) for projects involving telehealth networks, the Secretary shall give preference to an eligible entity that meets at least 1 of the following requirements:

(A) Organization

(B) Services

(D) NetworkThe eligible entity demonstrates that the project involves a telehealth network that includes an entity that—

(i) provides clinical health care services, or educational services for health care providers and for patients or their families; and

(ii) is—(I) a public library;(II) an institution of higher education; or(III) a local government entity.

(E) Connectivity

(2) Telehealth resource centersIn awarding grants under subsection (d)(2) for projects involving telehealth resource centers, the Secretary shall give preference to an eligible entity that meets at least 1 of the following requirements:

(A) Provision of services

(B) Collaboration and sharing of expertise

(C) Broad range of telehealth servicesThe eligible entity has a record of providing a broad range of telehealth services, which may include—

(i) a variety of clinical specialty services;

(ii) patient or family education;

(iii) health care professional education; and

(iv) rural residency support programs.

(i) Distribution of funds

(1) In general

(2) Telehealth networks

(j) Use of funds

(1) Telehealth network programThe recipient of a grant under subsection (d)(1) may use funds received through such grant for salaries, equipment, and operating or other costs, including the cost of—

(A) developing and delivering clinical telehealth services that enhance access to community-based health care services in rural areas, frontier communities, or medically underserved areas, or for medically underserved populations;

(B) developing and acquiring, through lease or purchase, equipment that furthers the objectives of the telehealth network grant program;

(C)

(i) developing and providing distance education, in a manner that enhances access to care in rural areas, frontier communities, or medically underserved areas, or for medically underserved populations; or

(ii) mentoring, precepting, or supervising health care providers and students seeking to become health care providers, in a manner that enhances access to care in the areas and communities, or for the populations, described in clause (i);

(D) developing and acquiring instructional programming;

(E)

(i) providing for transmission of medical data, and maintenance of equipment; and

(ii) providing for compensation (including travel expenses) of specialists, and referring health care providers, who are providing telehealth services through the telehealth network, if no third party payment is available for the telehealth services delivered through the telehealth network;

(F) developing projects to use telehealth technology to facilitate collaboration between health care providers;

(G) collecting and analyzing usage statistics and data to document the cost-effectiveness of the telehealth services; and

(H) carrying out such other activities as are consistent with achieving the objectives of this section, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) Telehealth resource centersThe recipient of a grant under subsection (d)(2) may use funds received through such grant for salaries, equipment, and operating or other costs for—

(A) providing technical assistance, training, and support, and providing for travel expenses, for health care providers and a range of health care entities that provide or will provide telehealth services;

(B) disseminating information and research findings related to telehealth services;

(D) conducting evaluations to determine the best utilization of telehealth technologies to meet health care needs;

(E) promoting the integration of the technologies used in clinical information systems with other telehealth technologies;

(F) fostering the use of telehealth technologies to provide health care information and education for consumers in a more effective manner; and

(G) implementing special projects or studies under the direction of the Office.

(k) Prohibited uses of fundsAn entity that receives a grant under this section may not use funds made available through the grant—

(1) to acquire real property;

(2) for expenditures to purchase or lease equipment, to the extent that the expenditures would exceed 20 percent of the total grant funds;

(3) in the case of a project involving a telehealth network, to purchase or install transmission equipment;

(4) to pay for any equipment or transmission costs not directly related to the purposes for which the grant is awarded;

(5) to purchase or install general purpose voice telephone systems;

(6) for construction; or

(7) for expenditures for indirect costs (as determined by the Secretary), to the extent that the expenditures would exceed 15 percent of the total grant funds.

(l) CollaborationIn providing services under this section, an eligible entity shall collaborate, if feasible, with entities that—

(1)

(A) are private or public organizations, that receive Federal or State assistance; or

(B) are public or private entities that operate centers, or carry out programs, that receive Federal or State assistance; and

(2) provide telehealth services or related activities.

(m) Coordination with other agencies

(n) Outreach activities

(o) Telehealth

(p) Report

(q) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330I, as added Pub. L. 107–251, title II, § 212, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1632; amended Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(c), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2021; Pub. L. 113–55, title I, § 103(a), Nov. 27, 2013, 127 Stat. 642; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3212, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 368; Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 143, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 799.)

§ 254c–15. Transferred

§ 254c–16. Mental health services delivered via telehealth

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible entity

(2) Qualified mental health professionals

(3) Special populationsThe term “special populations” refers to the following 2 distinct groups:

(A) Children and adolescents in mental health underserved rural areas or in mental health underserved urban areas.

(B) Elderly individuals located in long-term care facilities in mental health underserved rural or urban areas.

(4) Telehealth

(b) Program authorized

(1) In general

(2) Populations served

(1) In generalAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds—

(A) for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(A)—

(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and

(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services; and

(B) for the populations described in subsection (a)(3)(B)—

(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, in long-term care facilities as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and

(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services.

(2) Other usesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may also use the grant funds to—

(A) pay telecommunications costs; and

(B) pay qualified mental health professionals on a reasonable cost basis as determined by the Secretary for services rendered.

(3) Prohibited usesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall not use the grant funds to—

(A) purchase or install transmission equipment (other than such equipment used by qualified mental health professionals to deliver mental health services using telehealth under the project involved); or

(B) build upon or acquire real property.

(d) Equitable distribution

(e) Application

(f) Report

(g) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330K, as added Pub. L. 107–251, title II, § 221, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1640; amended Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(d), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2021.)

§ 254c–17. Repealed. Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(e)(2), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2021

§ 254c–18. Telemedicine; incentive grants regarding coordination among States

(a) In general

(b) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330L, as added Pub. L. 108–163, § 2(e)(1), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2021.)

§ 254c–19. Pediatric mental health care access grants

(a) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall award grants or cooperative agreements to States, political subdivisions of States, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations (for purposes of this section, as such terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25) to promote behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care by—

(1) supporting the development of statewide or regional pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs; and

(2) supporting the improvement of existing statewide or regional pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs.

(b) Program requirements

(1) In general

A pediatric mental health care telehealth access program referred to in subsection (a), with respect to which an award under such subsection may be used, shall—

(A) be a statewide or regional network of pediatric mental health teams that provide support to pediatric primary care sites as an integrated team;

(B) support and further develop organized State or regional networks of pediatric mental health teams to provide consultative support to pediatric primary care sites;

(C) conduct an assessment of critical behavioral consultation needs among pediatric providers and such providers’ preferred mechanisms for receiving consultation, training, and technical assistance;

(D) develop an online database and communication mechanisms, including telehealth, to facilitate consultation support to pediatric practices;

(E) provide rapid statewide or regional clinical telephone or telehealth consultations when requested between the pediatric mental health teams and pediatric primary care providers;

(F) conduct training and provide technical assistance to pediatric primary care providers to support the early identification, diagnosis, treatment, and referral of children with behavioral health conditions;

(G) provide information to pediatric providers about, and assist pediatric providers in accessing, pediatric mental health care providers, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, developmental-behavioral pediatricians, and licensed mental health professionals, such as psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors and in scheduling and conducting technical assistance;

(H) provide information to pediatric health care providers about available mental health services for children in the community and assist with referrals to specialty care and community or behavioral health resources; and

(I) establish mechanisms for measuring and monitoring increased access to pediatric mental health care services by pediatric primary care providers and expanded capacity of pediatric primary care providers to identify, treat, and refer children with mental health conditions.

(2) Support to schools and emergency departments

(A) In general

In addition to the activities required under paragraph (1), a pediatric mental health care access program referred to in subsection (a), with respect to which an award under such subsection may be used, may provide information, consultative support, training, and technical assistance to—

(i) emergency departments; and

(ii) State educational agencies, local educational agencies, Tribal educational agencies, and elementary and secondary schools.

(B) Requirements for certain recipients

(3) Pediatric mental health teams

(d) Evaluation

(e) Access to broadband

(f) Matching requirement

(g) Technical assistance

The Secretary may—

(1) provide, or continue to provide, technical assistance to recipients of awards under subsection (a); and

(2) award a grant or contract to an eligible public or nonprofit private entity (as determined by the Secretary) for the purpose of providing such technical assistance pursuant to this subsection.

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330M, as added Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title X, § 10002, Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1262; amended Pub. L. 117–159, div. A, title I, § 11005, June 25, 2022, 136 Stat. 1321.)

§ 254c–20. Expanding capacity for health outcomes

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible entity

(2) Health professional shortage area

(3) Indian Tribe

(4) Medically underserved population

(5) Native Americans

(6) Technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model

(7) Urban Indian organization

(b) Program established

(1) In generalGrants 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 usesIn 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

(e) Grant requirements

(f) Application

(g) Access to broadband

(h) Technical assistance

(i) Research and evaluation

(j) Report by SecretaryNot later than 4 years after December 27, 2020, 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 subsections (b);

(B) technical assistance provided under subsection (h); 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

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330N, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 313, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2927.)

§ 254c–21. Innovation for maternal health

(a) In generalThe Secretary, in consultation with experts representing a variety of clinical specialties, State, Tribal, or local public health officials, researchers, epidemiologists, statisticians, and community organizations, shall establish or continue a program to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of—

(1) identifying, developing, or disseminating best practices to improve maternal health care quality and outcomes, improve maternal and infant health, and eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, which may include—

(A) information on evidence-based practices to improve the quality and safety of maternal health care in hospitals and other health care settings of a State or health care system by addressing topics commonly associated with health complications or risks related to prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care;

(B) best practices for improving maternal health care based on data findings and reviews conducted by a State maternal mortality review committee that address topics of relevance to common complications or health risks related to prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care; and

(C) information on addressing determinants of health that impact maternal health outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy;

(2) collaborating with State maternal mortality review committees to identify issues for the development and implementation of evidence-based practices to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, consistent with section 247b–12 of this title;

(3) providing technical assistance and supporting the implementation of best practices identified in paragraph (1) to entities providing health care services to pregnant and postpartum women; and

(4) identifying, developing, and evaluating new models of care that improve maternal and infant health outcomes, which may include the integration of community-based services and clinical care.

(b) Eligible entitiesTo be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and

(2) demonstrate in such application that the entity is capable of carrying out data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiatives in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology or maternal health.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330O, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 131, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 794.)

§ 254c–22. Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women

(a) In general

(b) Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women

(1) Eligibility

To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25) shall work with relevant stakeholders that coordinate care to develop and carry out the program, including—

(A) State, Tribal, and local agencies responsible for Medicaid, public health, social services, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment and services;

(B) health care providers who serve pregnant and postpartum women; and

(C) community-based health organizations and health workers, including providers of home visiting services and individuals representing communities with disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and including those representing racial and ethnic minority populations.

(2) Terms

(A) Period

(B) Priorities

In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(i) give priority to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations that have the highest rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity relative to other such States, Indian Tribes, or Tribal organizations, respectively; and

(ii) shall consider health disparities related to maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, including such disparities associated with racial and ethnic minority populations.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330P, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 134(a), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 796.)