H. R. 1343—4 
(dd) transportation to health care facili-
ties; 
(ee) development of provider networks and 
other innovative models to engage local physi-
cians and other providers to serve the medi-
cally underserved within a community; 
(ff) recruitment, training, and compensa-
tion of necessary personnel; 
(gg) acquisition of technology for the pur-
pose of coordinating care; 
(hh) improvements to provider commu-
nication, including implementation of shared 
information systems or shared clinical sys-
tems; 
(ii) determination of eligibility for Federal, 
State, and local programs that provide, or 
financially support the provision of, medical, 
social, housing, educational, or other related 
services; 
(jj) development of prevention and disease 
management tools and processes; 
(kk) translation services; 
(ll) development and implementation of 
evaluation measures and processes to assess 
patient outcomes; 
(mm) integration of primary care and 
mental health services; and 
(nn) carrying out other activities that may 
be appropriate to a community and that would 
increase access by the uninsured to health 
care, such as access initiatives for which pri-
vate entities provide non-Federal contributions 
to supplement the Federal funds provided 
through the grants for the initiatives; and 
(ii) an assessment of— 
(I) challenges, including barriers to Federal 
programs, encountered by such entities in pro-
viding care to medically underserved and unin-
sured populations; and 
(II) advantages and disadvantages of such 
models compared to other models of care delivery 
for medically underserved and uninsured popu-
lations, including— 
(aa) quality measurement and quality out-
comes; 
(bb) administrative efficiencies; and 
(cc) geographic distribution of federally- 
supported clinics compared to geographic dis-
tribution of integrated health systems. 
(5) GAO STUDY ON VOLUNTEER ENHANCEMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study, and submit 
a report to Congress, concerning the implications of 
extending Federal Tort Claims Act (chapter 171 of title
H. R. 1343—5 
28, United States Code) coverage to health care profes-
sionals who volunteer to furnish care to patients of health 
centers. 
(B) CONTENT.—In conducting the study under subpara-
graph (A), the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall analyze— 
(i) the potential financial implications for the Fed-
eral Government of such an extension, including any 
increased funding needed for current health center 
Federal Tort Claims Act coverage; 
(ii) an estimate of the increase in the number 
of health care professionals at health centers, and what 
types of such professionals would most likely volunteer 
given the extension of Federal Tort Claims Act cov-
erage; 
(iii) the increase in services provided by health 
centers as a result of such an increase in health care 
professionals, and in particular the effect of such action 
on the ability of health centers to secure specialty 
and diagnostic services needed by their uninsured and 
other patients; 
(iv) the volume of patient workload at health cen-
ters and how volunteer health care professionals may 
help address the patient volume; 
(v) the most appropriate manner of extending such 
coverage to volunteer health care professionals at 
health centers, including any potential difference from 
the mechanism currently used for health care profes-
sional volunteers at free clinics; 
(vi) State laws that have been shown to encourage 
physicians and other health care providers to provide 
charity care as an agent of the State; and 
(vii) other policies, including legislative or regu-
latory changes, that have the potential to increase 
the number of volunteer health care staff at health 
centers and the financial implications of such policies, 
including the cost savings associated with the ability 
to provide more services in health centers rather than 
more expensive sites of care. 
(c) RECOGNITION OF HIGH POVERTY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 330(c) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) RECOGNITION OF HIGH POVERTY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In making grants under this sub-
section, the Secretary may recognize the unique needs of 
high poverty areas. 
‘‘(B) HIGH POVERTY AREA DEFINED.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A), the term ‘high poverty area’ means a 
catchment area which is established in a manner that 
is consistent with the factors in subsection (k)(3)(J), and 
the poverty rate of which is greater than the national 
average poverty rate as determined by the Bureau of the 
Census.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph 
(1) shall apply to grants made on or after January 1, 2009.