H. R. 3590—473 
‘‘(17) FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED
HEALTH
CENTER.—The term 
‘Federally qualified health center’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(aa)). 
‘‘(18) FRONTIER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA.— 
The term ‘frontier health professional shortage area’ means 
an area— 
‘‘(A) with a population density less than 6 persons 
per square mile within the service area; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to which the distance or time for 
the population to access care is excessive. 
‘‘(19) GRADUATE
PSYCHOLOGY.—The term ‘graduate psy-
chology’ means an accredited program in professional psy-
chology. 
‘‘(20) HEALTH
DISPARITY
POPULATION.—The term ‘health 
disparity population’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 903(d)(1). 
‘‘(21) HEALTH LITERACY.—The term ‘health literacy’ means 
the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, 
communicate, process, and understand health information and 
services in order to make appropriate health decisions. 
‘‘(22) MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONAL.—The term 
‘mental health service professional’ means an individual with 
a graduate or postgraduate degree from an accredited institu-
tion of higher education in psychiatry, psychology, school psy-
chology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, 
school social work, substance abuse disorder prevention and 
treatment, marriage and family counseling, school counseling, 
or professional counseling. 
‘‘(23) ONE-STOP DELIVERY SYSTEM CENTER.—The term ‘one- 
stop delivery system’ means a one-stop delivery system 
described in section 134(c) of the Workforce Investment Act 
of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(c)). 
‘‘(24) PARAPROFESSIONAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL 
HEALTH WORKER.—The term ‘paraprofessional child and adoles-
cent mental health worker’ means an individual who is not 
a mental or behavioral health service professional, but who 
works at the first stage of contact with children and families 
who are seeking mental or behavioral health services, including 
substance abuse prevention and treatment services. 
‘‘(25) RACIAL
AND
ETHNIC
MINORITY
GROUP; RACIAL
AND 
ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATION.—The terms ‘racial and ethnic 
minority group’ and ‘racial and ethnic minority population’ 
have the meaning given the term ‘racial and ethnic minority 
group’ in section 1707. 
‘‘(26) RURAL HEALTH CLINIC.—The term ‘rural health clinic’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 1861(aa) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)).’’. 
(c) TITLE VIII OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.—Section 
801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘means a’’ and inserting ‘‘means an 
accredited (as defined in paragraph 6)’’; and 
(B) by striking the period as inserting the following: 
‘‘where graduates are— 
‘‘(A) authorized to sit for the National Council Licen-
sure EXamination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX–RN); or
H. R. 3590—474 
‘‘(B) licensed registered nurses who will receive a grad-
uate or equivalent degree or training to become an 
advanced education nurse as defined by section 811(b).’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(16) ACCELERATED NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM.—The term 
‘accelerated nursing degree program’ means a program of edu-
cation in professional nursing offered by an accredited school 
of nursing in which an individual holding a bachelors degree 
in another discipline receives a BSN or MSN degree in an 
accelerated time frame as determined by the accredited school 
of nursing. 
‘‘(17) BRIDGE OR DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM.—The term 
‘bridge or degree completion program’ means a program of 
education in professional nursing offered by an accredited school 
of nursing, as defined in paragraph (2), that leads to a bacca-
laureate degree in nursing. Such programs may include, Reg-
istered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor’s of Science of Nursing (BSN) 
programs, RN to MSN (Master of Science of Nursing) programs, 
or BSN to Doctoral programs.’’. 
Subtitle B—Innovations in the Health Care 
Workforce 
SEC. 5101. NATIONAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE COMMISSION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to establish 
a National Health Care Workforce Commission that— 
(1) serves as a national resource for Congress, the Presi-
dent, States, and localities; 
(2) communicates and coordinates with the Departments 
of Health and Human Services, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Home-
land Security, and Education on related activities administered 
by one or more of such Departments; 
(3) develops and commissions evaluations of education and 
training activities to determine whether the demand for health 
care workers is being met; 
(4) identifies barriers to improved coordination at the Fed-
eral, State, and local levels and recommend ways to address 
such barriers; and 
(5) encourages innovations to address population needs, 
constant changes in technology, and other environmental fac-
tors. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the National 
Health Care Workforce Commission (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 15 members to be appointed by the Comptroller 
General, without regard to section 5 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The membership of the Commission 
shall include individuals— 
(i) with national recognition for their expertise 
in health care labor market analysis, including health 
care workforce analysis; health care finance and
H. R. 3590—475 
economics; health care facility management; health 
care plans and integrated delivery systems; health care 
workforce education and training; health care philan-
thropy; providers of health care services; and other 
related fields; and 
(ii) who will provide a combination of professional 
perspectives, broad geographic representation, and a 
balance between urban, suburban, rural, and frontier 
representatives. 
(B) INCLUSION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The membership of the Commis-
sion shall include no less than one representative of— 
(I) the health care workforce and health 
professionals; 
(II) employers; 
(III) third-party payers; 
(IV) individuals skilled in the conduct and 
interpretation of health care services and health 
economics research; 
(V) representatives of consumers; 
(VI) labor unions; 
(VII) State or local workforce investment 
boards; and 
(VIII) educational institutions (which may 
include elementary and secondary institutions, 
institutions of higher education, including 2 and 
4 year institutions, or registered apprenticeship 
programs). 
(ii) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—The remaining mem-
bership may include additional representatives from 
clause (i) and other individuals as determined appro-
priate by the Comptroller General of the United States. 
(C) MAJORITY
NON-PROVIDERS.—Individuals who are 
directly involved in health professions education or practice 
shall not constitute a majority of the membership of the 
Commission. 
(D) ETHICAL
DISCLOSURE.—The Comptroller General 
shall establish a system for public disclosure by members 
of the Commission of financial and other potential conflicts 
of interest relating to such members. Members of the 
Commission shall be treated as employees of Congress 
for purposes of applying title I of the Ethics in Government 
Act of 1978. Members of the Commission shall not be 
treated as special government employees under title 18, 
United States Code. 
(3) TERMS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The terms of members of the 
Commission shall be for 3 years except that the Comptroller 
General shall designate staggered terms for the members 
first appointed. 
(B) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for 
which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be 
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member 
may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until 
a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the Commission
H. R. 3590—476 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made. 
(C) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Comptroller General 
shall make initial appointments of members to the Commis-
sion not later than September 30, 2010. 
(4) COMPENSATION.—While serving on the business of the 
Commission (including travel time), a member of the Commis-
sion shall be entitled to compensation at the per diem equiva-
lent of the rate provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of tile 5, United States Code, and while 
so serving away from home and the member’s regular place 
of business, a member may be allowed travel expenses, as 
authorized by the Chairman of the Commission. Physicians 
serving as personnel of the Commission may be provided a 
physician comparability allowance by the Commission in the 
same manner as Government physicians may be provided such 
an allowance by an agency under section 5948 of title 5, United 
States Code, and for such purpose subsection (i) of such section 
shall apply to the Commission in the same manner as it applies 
to the Tennessee Valley Authority. For purposes of pay (other 
than pay of members of the Commission) and employment 
benefits, rights, and privileges, all personnel of the Commission 
shall be treated as if they were employees of the United States 
Senate. Personnel of the Commission shall not be treated as 
employees of the Government Accountability Office for any 
purpose. 
(5) CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Comptroller General 
shall designate a member of the Commission, at the time of 
appointment of the member, as Chairman and a member as 
Vice Chairman for that term of appointment, except that in 
the case of vacancy of the chairmanship or vice chairmanship, 
the Comptroller General may designate another member for 
the remainder of that member’s term. 
(6) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call 
of the chairman, but no less frequently than on a quarterly 
basis. 
(d) DUTIES.— 
(1) RECOGNITION, DISSEMINATION, AND COMMUNICATION.— 
The Commission shall— 
(A) recognize efforts of Federal, State, and local part-
nerships to develop and offer health care career pathways 
of proven effectiveness; 
(B) disseminate information on promising retention 
practices for health care professionals; and 
(C) communicate information on important policies and 
practices that affect the recruitment, education and 
training, and retention of the health care workforce. 
(2) REVIEW
OF
HEALTH
CARE
WORKFORCE
AND
ANNUAL 
REPORTS.—In order to develop a fiscally sustainable integrated 
workforce that supports a high-quality, readily accessible health 
care delivery system that meets the needs of patients and 
populations, the Commission, in consultation with relevant Fed-
eral, State, and local agencies, shall— 
(A) review current and projected health care workforce 
supply and demand, including the topics described in para-
graph (3);