necessary to carry out the duties described in para-
graph (2). 
(5) STAFF.—Upon the request of the Commis-
sion, the Secretary may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any of the personnel of the Office of Rural 
Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, the Agency for Health Care Quality 
and Research, or the Centers for Medicare & Med-
icaid Services to the Commission to assist in car-
rying out this subsection. 
(6) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the establishment of the Commission, and 
annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit a 
report to the Congress on rural health quality. Each 
such report shall include the following: 
(A) An inventory of relevant programs and 
recommendations for improved coordination and 
integration of policy and programs. 
(B) An assessment of achievement of the 
objectives identified in the national plan devel-
oped under paragraph (2) and recommenda-
tions for realizing such objectives. 
(C) Recommendations on Federal legisla-
tion, regulations, or administrative policies to 
enhance rural health quality and outcomes. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:33 Sep 12, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6030.IH
H6030
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
(b) RURAL
HEALTH
QUALITY
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Rural Health Qual-
ity Advisory Commission, the Office of Rural Health 
Policy of the Health Resources and Services Admin-
istration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, shall make grants to eligible entities for 5 
demonstration projects to implement and evaluate 
methods for improving the quality of health care in 
rural communities. Each such demonstration project 
shall include— 
(A) alternative community models that— 
(i) will achieve greater integration of 
personal and population health services; 
and 
(ii) 
address 
safety, 
effectiveness, 
patient- or community-centeredness, timeli-
ness, efficiency, and equity (the six aims 
identified by the Institute of Medicine of 
the National Academies in its report enti-
tled ‘‘Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:33 Sep 12, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6030.IH
H6030
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
Health System for the 21st Century’’ re-
leased on March 1, 2001); 
(B) innovative approaches to the financing 
and delivery of health services to achieve rural 
health quality goals; and 
(C) development of quality improvement 
support structures to assist rural health sys-
tems and professionals (such as workforce sup-
port structures, quality monitoring and report-
ing, clinical care protocols, and information 
technology applications). 
(2) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—In this subsection, 
the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a consortium 
that— 
(A) shall include— 
(i) at least one health care provider or 
health care delivery system located in a 
rural area; and 
(ii) at least one organization rep-
resenting multiple community stakeholders; 
and 
(B) may include other partners such as 
rural research centers. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In developing the pro-
gram for awarding grants under this subsection, the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:33 Sep 12, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6030.IH
H6030
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, rural 
health care providers, rural health care researchers, 
and private and non-profit groups (including na-
tional associations) which are undertaking similar 
efforts. 
(4) EXPEDITED WAIVERS.—The Secretary shall 
expedite the processing of any waiver that— 
(A) is authorized under title XVIII or XIX 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
seq.); and 
(B) is necessary to carry out a demonstra-
tion project under this subsection. 
(5) DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT
SITES.—The 
Secretary shall ensure that the 5 demonstration 
projects funded under this subsection are conducted 
at a variety of sites representing the diversity of 
rural communities in the Nation. 
(6) DURATION.—Each demonstration project 
under this subsection shall be for a period of 4 
years. 
(7) INDEPENDENT
EVALUATION.—The Sec-
retary shall enter into an arrangement with an enti-
ty that has experience working directly with rural 
health systems for the conduct of an independent 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
23:33 Sep 12, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6030.IH
H6030
hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS