‘‘(d) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS.—Data col-
lected under subsection (a) shall be obtained, maintained, 
and presented (including for reporting purposes) in ac-
cordance with the 1997 Office of Management and Budget 
Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting 
Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (at a minimum). 
‘‘(e) LANGUAGE
COLLECTION
STANDARDS.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title, 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, in 
consultation with the Office for Civil Rights of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, shall develop and 
disseminate Standards for the Classification of Federal 
Data on Preferred Written and Spoken Language. 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE COLLECTION 
AND REPORTING OF DATA.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, either 
directly or through grant or contract, provide tech-
nical assistance to enable a health care program or 
an entity operating under such program to comply 
with the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(2) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance pro-
vided under this subsection may include assistance 
to— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(A) enhance or upgrade computer tech-
nology that will facilitate racial, ethnic, and pri-
mary language data collection and analysis; 
‘‘(B) improve methods for health data col-
lection and analysis including additional popu-
lation groups beyond the Office of Management 
and Budget categories if such groups can be 
aggregated into the minimum race and ethnicity 
categories; 
‘‘(C) develop mechanisms for submitting 
collected data subject to existing privacy and 
confidentiality regulations; and 
‘‘(D) develop educational programs to in-
form health insurance issuers, health plans, 
health providers, health-related agencies, and 
the general public that data collection and re-
porting by race, ethnicity, and preferred lan-
guage are legal and essential for eliminating 
health and health care disparities. 
‘‘(g) ANALYSIS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DATA.—The 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality and in coordination with 
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, shall provide technical assistance to agencies of 
the Department of Health and Human Services in meeting 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00076
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
Federal standards for race, ethnicity, and primary lan-
guage data collection and analysis of racial and ethnic dis-
parities in health and health care in public programs by— 
‘‘(1) identifying appropriate quality assurance 
mechanisms to monitor for health disparities; 
‘‘(2) specifying the clinical, diagnostic, or thera-
peutic measures which should be monitored; 
‘‘(3) developing new quality measures relating 
to racial and ethnic disparities in health and health 
care; 
‘‘(4) identifying the level at which data analysis 
should be conducted; and 
‘‘(5) sharing data with external organizations 
for research and quality improvement purposes. 
‘‘(h) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this title, and biennially thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the effectiveness of data collection, 
analysis, and reporting on race, ethnicity, and primary 
language under the programs and activities of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services and under other Fed-
eral data collection systems with which the Department 
interacts to collect relevant data on race and ethnicity. 
The report shall evaluate the progress made in the De-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
partment with respect to the national plan under sub-
section (c) or subsequent revisions thereto. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘health- 
related program’ mean a program— 
‘‘(1) under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
301 et seq.) that pay for health care and services; 
and 
‘‘(2) under this Act that provide Federal finan-
cial assistance for health care, biomedical research, 
health services research, and programs designed to 
improve the public’s health. 
‘‘(j) 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 
2008 through 2013. 
‘‘SEC. 3032. PROVISIONS RELATING TO NATIVE AMERICANS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
EPIDEMIOLOGY
CEN-
TERS.—The Secretary shall establish an epidemiology cen-
ter in each service area to carry out the functions de-
scribed in subsection (b). Any new center established after 
the date of the enactment of the Health Equity and Ac-
countability Act of 2007 may be operated under a grant 
authorized by subsection (d), but funding under such a 
grant shall not be divisible. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00078
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS OF CENTERS.—In consultation with 
and upon the request of Indian Tribes, Tribal Organiza-
tions, and Urban Indian Organizations, each service area 
epidemiology center established under this subsection 
shall, with respect to such service area— 
‘‘(1) collect data relating to, and monitor 
progress made toward meeting, each of the health 
status objectives of the Service, the Indian Tribes, 
Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organiza-
tions in the service area; 
‘‘(2) evaluate existing delivery systems, data 
systems, and other systems that impact the improve-
ment of Indian health; 
‘‘(3) assist Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, 
and Urban Indian Organizations in identifying their 
highest priority health status objectives and the 
services needed to achieve such objectives, based on 
epidemiological data; 
‘‘(4) make recommendations for the targeting 
of services needed by the populations served; 
‘‘(5) make recommendations to improve health 
care delivery systems for Indians and Urban Indi-
ans; 
‘‘(6) provide requested technical assistance to 
Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban In-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
dian Organizations in the development of local 
health service priorities and incidence and prevalence 
rates of disease and other illness in the community; 
and 
‘‘(7) provide disease surveillance and assist In-
dian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian 
Organizations to promote public health. 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall provide 
technical assistance to the centers in carrying out the re-
quirements of this subsection. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS FOR STUDIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, 
Urban Indian Organizations, and eligible intertribal 
consortia to conduct epidemiological studies of In-
dian communities. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INTERTRIBAL CONSORTIA.—An 
intertribal consortium is eligible to receive a grant 
under this subsection if— 
‘‘(A) the intertribal consortium is incor-
porated for the primary purpose of improving 
Indian health; and 
‘‘(B) the intertribal consortium is rep-
resentative of the Indian Tribes or urban In-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
dian communities in which the intertribal con-
sortium is located. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—An application for a 
grant under this subsection shall be submitted in 
such manner and at such time as the Secretary shall 
prescribe. 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—An applicant for a 
grant under this subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) demonstrate the technical, adminis-
trative, and financial expertise necessary to 
carry out the functions described in paragraph 
(5); 
‘‘(B) consult and cooperate with providers 
of related health and social services in order to 
avoid duplication of existing services; and 
‘‘(C) demonstrate cooperation from Indian 
tribes or Urban Indian Organizations in the 
area to be served. 
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant awarded under 
paragraph (1) may be used— 
‘‘(A) to carry out the functions described 
in subsection (b); 
‘‘(B) to provide information to and consult 
with tribal leaders, urban Indian community 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
leaders, and related health staff on health care 
and health service management issues; and 
‘‘(C) in collaboration with Indian Tribes, 
Tribal Organizations, and urban Indian com-
munities, to provide the Service with informa-
tion regarding ways to improve the health sta-
tus of Indians. 
‘‘(e) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—An epidemiology 
center operated by a grantee pursuant to a grant awarded 
under subsection (d) shall be treated as a public health 
authority for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 
Stat. 2033), as such entities are defined in part 164.501 
of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
regulation). The Secretary shall grant such grantees ac-
cess to and use of data, data sets, monitoring systems, 
delivery systems, and other protected health information 
in the possession of the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 302. COLLECTION OF RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA BY 
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. 
Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 1150A. COLLECTION OF RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA 
BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Commissioner of Social 
Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall— 
‘‘(1) require the collection of data on the race, 
ethnicity, and primary language of all applicants for 
social security account numbers or benefits under 
title II or part A of title XVIII and all individuals 
with respect to whom the Commissioner maintains 
records of wages and self-employment income in ac-
cordance with reports received by the Commissioner 
or the Secretary of the Treasury— 
‘‘(A) using, at a minimum, the categories 
for race and ethnicity described in the 1997 Of-
fice of Management and Budget Standards for 
Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal 
Data on Race and Ethnicity and available lan-
guage standards; and 
‘‘(B) where practicable, collecting data for 
additional population groups if such groups can 
be aggregated into the minimum race and eth-
nicity categories; 
‘‘(2) with respect to the collection of the data 
described in paragraph (1) for applicants who are 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
under 18 years of age or otherwise legally incapaci-
tated, require that— 
‘‘(A) such data be collected from the par-
ent or legal guardian of such an applicant; and 
‘‘(B) the primary language of the parent 
or legal guardian of such an applicant or recipi-
ent be used; 
‘‘(3) require that such data be uniformly ana-
lyzed and reported at least annually to the Commis-
sioner of Social Security; 
‘‘(4) be responsible for storing the data re-
ported under paragraph (3); 
‘‘(5) ensure transmission to the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services and other Federal 
health agencies; 
‘‘(6) provide such data to the Secretary on at 
least an annual basis; and 
‘‘(7) ensure that the provision of assistance to 
an applicant is not denied or otherwise adversely af-
fected because of the failure of the applicant to pro-
vide race, ethnicity, and primary language data. 
‘‘(b) PROTECTION OF DATA.—The Commissioner of 
Social Security shall ensure (through the promulgation of 
regulations or otherwise) that all data collected pursuant 
subsection (a) is protected— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(1) under the same privacy protections as the 
Secretary applies to health data under the regula-
tions promulgated under section 264(c) of the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 2033) re-
lating to the privacy of individually identifiable 
health information and other protections; and 
‘‘(2) from all inappropriate internal use by any 
entity that collects, stores, or receives the data, in-
cluding use of such data in determinations of eligi-
bility (or continued eligibility) in health plans, and 
from other inappropriate uses, as defined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to permit the use of information 
collected under this section in a manner that would ad-
versely affect any individual providing any such informa-
tion. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may, 
either directly or by grant or contract, provide technical 
assistance to enable any health entity to comply with the 
requirements of this section. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
19:56 Jul 14, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3014.IH
H3014
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS