ECHO Act of 2019

To amend the Public Health Service Act to expand the capacity to improve health outcomes and increase access to specialized care. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act of 2019 ECHO Act of 2019 2. Expanding capacity for health outcomes Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 330M ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–19 330N. Expanding capacity for health outcomes (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) means an entity that provides, or supports the provision of, health care services— (i) in rural areas, frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically underserved areas; or (ii) to medically underserved populations or Native Americans, including Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations; and (B) may include entities leading, or capable of leading, a technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model or engaging in technology-enabled collaborative training of participants in such model. (2) Health professional shortage area The term health professional shortage area (3) Indian tribe The terms Indian Tribe Tribal organization Indian tribe tribal organization (4) Medically underserved population The term medically underserved population (5) Native Americans The term Native Americans (6) Technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model The term technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model (7) Urban Indian organization The urban Indian organization Urban Indian organization (b) Program established The Secretary shall, as appropriate, award grants to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, to improve retention of health care providers and increase access to health care services, such as those to address chronic diseases and conditions, infectious diseases, mental health, substance use disorders, prenatal and maternal health, pediatric care, pain management, palliative care, and other specialty care in rural areas, frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically underserved areas and for medically underserved populations or Native Americans, including Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (c) Use of funds (1) In general Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall be used for— (A) the development and acquisition of instructional programming, and the training of health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through models described in subsection (b), such as training on best practices for data collection and leading or participating in such technology-enabled activities consistent with technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models; (B) information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models on patient outcomes and health care providers, and to identify best practices for the expansion and use of such models; or (C) other activities consistent with achieving the objectives of the grants awarded under this section, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Other uses In addition to any of the uses under paragraph (1), grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used for— (A) equipment to support the use and expansion of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, including for hardware and software that enables distance learning, health care provider support, and the secure exchange of electronic health information; or (B) support for health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through such models. (d) Length of grants Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall be for a period of up to 5 years. (e) Grant requirements The Secretary may require entities awarded a grant under this section to collect information on the effect of the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, such as on health outcomes, access to health care services, quality of care, and provider retention in areas and populations described in subsection (b). The Secretary may award a grant or contract to assist in the coordination of such models, including to assess outcomes associated with the use of such models in grants awarded under subsection (b), including for the purpose described in subsection (c)(1)(B). (f) Application An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models on patient outcomes and health care providers. (g) Access to broadband In administering grants under this section, the Secretary may coordinate with other agencies to ensure that funding opportunities are available to support access to reliable, high-speed internet for grantees. (h) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide (either directly through the Department of Health and Human Services or by contract) technical assistance to eligible entities, including recipients of grants under subsection (b), on the development, use, and evaluation of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models in order to expand access to health care services provided by such entities, including for medically underserved areas and to medically underserved populations or Native Americans, including Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (i) Research and evaluation The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders with appropriate expertise in such models, shall develop a strategic plan to research and evaluate the evidence for such models. The Secretary shall use such plan to inform the activities carried out under this section. (j) Report by Secretary Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and post on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report including, at minimum— (1) a description of any new and continuing grants awarded to entities under subsection (b) and the specific purpose and amounts of such grants; (2) an overview of— (A) the evaluations conducted under subsection (b); (B) technical assistance provided under subsection (h); and (C) activities conducted by entities awarded grants under subsection (b); and (3) a description of any significant findings or developments related to patient outcomes or health care providers and best practices for eligible entities expanding, using, or evaluating technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, including through the activities described in subsection (h). (k) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. .

Summary: Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act of 2019 or the ECHO 2019 Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program that supports specified health care services in rural or medically underserved areas. Specifically, HHS must award grants to health care entities serving rural areas, health-professional shortage areas, medically underserved populations, or Native Americans for (1) specified videoconferencing technology that connects health professionals with specialists (e.g., chronic-disease, mental-health, and substance-use disorder specialists), (2) retaining health care providers, and (3) increasing access to health care services.