§ 254c. Rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to provide grants for expanded delivery of health care services in rural areas, for the planning and implementation of integrated health care networks in rural areas, and for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities.
(b)
Definitions
(3)
Health professional shortage area
The term “health professional shortage area” means a health professional shortage area designated under section
254e of this title.
(c)
Program
The Secretary shall establish, under section
241 of this title, a small health care provider quality improvement grant program.
(d)
Administration
(1)
Programs
The rural health care services outreach, rural health network development, and small health care provider quality improvement grant programs established under section
241 of this title shall be administered by the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in consultation with State offices of rural health or other appropriate State government entities.
(2)
Grants
(A)
In general
In carrying out the programs described in paragraph (1), the Director may award grants under subsections (e), (f), and (g) of this section to expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services, and enhance the delivery of health care, in rural areas.
(B)
Types of grants
The Director may award the grants—
(i)
to promote expanded delivery of health care services in rural areas under subsection (e) of this section;
(e)
Rural health care services outreach grants
(1)
Grants
The Director may award grants to eligible entities to promote rural health care services outreach by expanding the delivery of health care services to include new and enhanced services in rural areas. The Director may award the grants for periods of not more than 3 years.
(2)
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection for a project, an entity—
(3)
Applications
To 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;
(f)
Rural health network development grants
(1)
Grants
(A)
In general
The Director may award rural health network development grants to eligible entities to promote, through planning and implementation, the development of integrated health care networks that have combined the functions of the entities participating in the networks in order to—
(B)
Grant periods
The Director may award such a rural health network development grant for implementation activities for a period of 3 years. The Director may also award such a rural health network development grant for planning activities for a period of 1 year, to assist in the development of an integrated health care network, if the proposed participants in the network do not have a history of collaborative efforts and a 3-year grant would be inappropriate.
(2)
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity—
(3)
Applications
To 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;
(g)
Small health care provider quality improvement grants
(1)
Grants
The Director may award grants to provide for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities. The Director may award the grants for periods of 1 to 3 years.
(2)
Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity—
(3)
Applications
To 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;
(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;
(4)
Expenditures for small health care provider quality improvement grants
In awarding a grant under this subsection, the Director shall ensure that the funds made available through the grant will be used to provide services to residents of rural areas. The Director shall award not less than 50 percent of the funds made available under this subsection to providers located in and serving rural areas.
(h)
General requirements
(1)
Prohibited uses of funds
An entity that receives a grant under this section may not use funds provided through the grant—
(2)
Coordination with other agencies
The Secretary shall coordinate activities carried out under grant programs described in this section, to the extent practicable, with Federal and State agencies and nonprofit organizations that are operating similar grant programs, to maximize the effect of public dollars in funding meritorious proposals.
(i)
Report
Not later than September 30, 2005, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress and accomplishments of the grant programs described in subsections (e), (f), and (g) of this section.
(j)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.