,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eaii ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #bj1 #bjai,mr4 ,lujn 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,burgess1 ,ms4 ,torres ,small of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,kinzinger1 ,ms4 ,haaland1 and ,mr4 ,gianforte7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to expand the capacity to improve health outcomes and increase access to specialized care4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,expanding ,capacity for ,health ,outcomes ,act of #bjai or the ,,echo ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,expanding capacity for health outcomes ,title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act is amended by inserting after section #ccj,m 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;c-#ai7 the following3 #ccj,n4 ,expanding capacity for health outcomes 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity-- 7,a7 means an entity that provides1 or supports the provision of1 health care services-- 7i7 in rural areas1 frontier areas1 health professional shortage areas1 or medically underserved areas2 or 7ii7 to medically underserved populations or ,native ,americans1 including ,indian ,tribes1 ,tribal organizations1 or urban ,indian organizations2 and 7,b7 may include entities leading1 or capable of leading1 a technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model or engaging in technology-enabled collaborative training of participants in such model4 7#b7 ,health professional shortage area ,the term health professional shortage area means a health professional shortage area designated under section #ccb4 7#c7 ,indian tribe ,the terms ,indian ,tribe and ,tribal organization have the meanings given the terms ,indian tribe and tribal organization in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act4 7#d7 ,medically underserved population ,the term medically underserved population has the meaning given the term in section #ccj7;b77#c74 7#e7 ,native ,americans ,the term ,native ,americans has the meaning given such term in section #gcf and includes ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7#f7 ,technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model ,the term technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model means a distance health education model that connects health care professionals1 and particularly specialists1 with multiple other health care professionals through simultaneous interactive videoconferencing for the purpose of facilitating case-based learning1 disseminating best practices1 and evaluating outcomes4 7#g7 ,urban ,indian organization ,the urban ,indian organization has the meaning given the term ,urban ,indian organization in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act4 7b7 ,program established ,the ,secretary shall1 as appropriate1 award grants to evaluate1 develop1 and1 as appropriate1 expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models1 to improve retention of health care providers and increase access to health care services1 such as those to address chronic diseases and conditions1 infectious diseases1 mental health1 substance use disorders1 prenatal and maternal health1 pediatric care1 pain management1 palliative care1 and other specialty care in rural areas1 frontier areas1 health professional shortage areas1 or medically underserved areas and for medically underserved populations or ,native ,americans1 including ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7c7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,grants awarded under subsection 7b7 shall be used for-- 7,a7 the development and acquisition of instructional programming1 and the training of health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through models described in subsection 7b71 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 models2 7,b7 information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models on patient outcomes and health care providers1 and to identify best practices for the expansion and use of such models2 or 7,c7 other activities consistent with achieving the objectives of the grants awarded under this section1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,other uses ,in addition to any of the uses under paragraph 7#a71 grants awarded under subsection 7b7 may be used for-- 7,a7 equipment to support the use and expansion of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models1 including for hardware and software that enables distance learning1 health care provider support1 and the secure exchange of electronic health information2 or 7,b7 support for health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through such models4 7d7 ,length of grants ,grants awarded under subsection 7b7 shall be for a period of up to #e years4 7e7 ,grant requirements ,the ,secretary may require entities awarded a grant under this section to collect information on the effect of the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models1 such as on health outcomes1 access to health care services1 quality of care1 and provider retention in areas and populations described in subsection 7b74 ,the ,secretary may award a grant or contract to assist in the coordination of such models1 including to assess outcomes associated with the use of such models in grants awarded under subsection 7b71 including for the purpose described in subsection 7c77#a77;,b74 7f7 ,application ,an eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection 7b7 shall submit to the ,secretary an application1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application shall include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models on patient outcomes and health care providers4 7g7 ,access to broadband ,in administering grants under this section1 the ,secretary may coordinate with other agencies to ensure that funding opportunities are available to support access to reliable1 high-speed internet for grantees4 7h7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide 7either directly through the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services or by contract7 technical assistance to eligible entities1 including recipients of grants under subsection 7b71 on the development1 use1 and evaluation of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models in order to expand access to health care services provided by such entities1 including for medically underserved areas and to medically underserved populations or ,native ,americans1 including ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7i7 ,research and evaluation ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with stakeholders with appropriate expertise in such models1 shall develop a strategic plan to research and evaluate the evidence for such models4 ,the ,secretary shall use such plan to inform the activities carried out under this section4 7j7 ,report by ,secretary ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives1 and post on the internet website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 a report including1 at minimum-- 7#a7 a description of any new and continuing grants awarded to entities under subsection 7b7 and the specific purpose and amounts of such grants2 7#b7 an overview of-- 7,a7 the evaluations conducted under subsection 7b72 7,b7 technical assistance provided under subsection 7h72 and 7,c7 activities conducted by entities awarded grants under subsection 7b72 and 7#c7 a description of any significant findings or developments related to patient outcomes or health care providers and best practices for eligible entities expanding1 using1 or evaluating technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models1 including through the activities described in subsection 7h74 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section1 #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 4