(A) to define and increase the under-
standing of health literacy; 
(B) to investigate the correlation between 
low health literacy and health and healthcare; 
(C) to clarify which aspects of health lit-
eracy have an effect on health outcomes; and 
(D) for any other activity determined ap-
propriate by the Director of the Agency. 
(2) HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMIN-
ISTRATION.—Grants awarded under subsection (a) 
through the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration shall be used to conduct demonstration 
projects for interventions for patients with low 
health literacy that may include— 
(A) the development of new disease man-
agement programs for patients with low health 
literacy; 
(B) the tailoring of existing disease man-
agement programs addressing mental and phys-
ical health conditions for patients with low 
health literacy; 
(C) the translation of written health mate-
rials for patients with low health literacy; 
(D) the identification, implementation, and 
testing of low health literacy screening tools; 
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(E) the conduct of educational campaigns 
for patients and providers about low health lit-
eracy; and 
(F) other activities determined appropriate 
by the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘low 
health literacy’’ means the inability of an individual to ob-
tain, process, and understand basic health information 
and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2011. 
SEC. 105. REPORT ON FEDERAL EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CUL-
TURALLY 
AND 
LINGUISTICALLY 
APPRO-
PRIATE HEALTHCARE SERVICES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract 
with the Institute of Medicine for the preparation and 
publication of a report that describes Federal efforts to 
ensure that all individuals have meaningful access to cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services. 
Such report shall include— 
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(1) a description and evaluation of the activities 
carried out under this Act; and 
(2) a description of best practices, model pro-
grams, guidelines, and other effective strategies for 
providing access to culturally and linguistically ap-
propriate healthcare services. 
SEC. 106. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT ON IM-
PACT OF LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall examine, and prepare and publish a report on, the 
impact of language access services on the health and 
healthcare of limited English proficient populations. Such 
report shall include— 
(1) recommendations on the development and 
implementation 
of 
policies 
and 
practices 
by 
healthcare organizations and providers for limited 
English proficient patient populations; 
(2) a description of the effect of providing lan-
guage access services on quality of healthcare and 
access to care and reduced medical error; and 
(3) a description of the costs associated with or 
savings related to provision of language access serv-
ices. 
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SEC. 107. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) INCORPORATED DEFINITIONS.—The defini-
tions contained in section 2900 of the Public Health 
Service Act, as added by section 101, shall apply. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
SEC. 108. TREATMENT OF THE MEDICARE PART B PRO-
GRAM UNDER TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS 
ACT OF 1964. 
A payment provider of services or physician or other 
supplier under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act shall be deemed a grant, and not a contract of insur-
ance or guaranty, for the purposes of title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964. 
TITLE II—HEALTH WORKFORCE 
DIVERSITY 
SEC. 201. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
ACT. 
Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act, as 
added by section 101, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘Subtitle A—Diversifying the 
Healthcare Workplace 
‘‘SEC. 2911. REPORT ON WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2006, and 
biannually thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the 
director of each entity within the Department of Health 
and Human Services, 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 a report on health work-
force diversity. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENT.—The report under subsection 
(a) shall contain the following information: 
‘‘(1) A description of any grant support that is 
provided by each entity for workforce diversity ini-
tiatives with the following information— 
‘‘(A) the number of grants made; 
‘‘(B) the purpose of the grants; 
‘‘(C) the populations served through the 
grants; 
‘‘(D) the organizations and institutions re-
ceiving the grants; and 
‘‘(E) the tracking efforts that were used to 
follow the progress of participants. 
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