1310 
‘‘(2) TERMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
appoint members of the Task Force for a term 
of 6 years and may reappoint such members, 
but the Secretary may not appoint any member 
to serve more than a total of 12 years. 
‘‘(B) 
STAGGERED
TERMS.—Notwith-
standing subparagraph (A), of the members 
first appointed to serve on the Task Force after 
the enactment of this section— 
‘‘(i) 10 shall be appointed for a term 
of 2 years; 
‘‘(ii) 10 shall be appointed for a term 
of 4 years; and 
‘‘(iii) 10 shall be appointed for a term 
of 6 years. 
‘‘(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Task 
Force shall be appointed from among individuals 
who possess expertise in at least one of the following 
areas: 
‘‘(A) Public health. 
‘‘(B) Evaluation of research and system-
atic evidence reviews. 
‘‘(C) Disciplines relevant to community 
preventive services, including health promotion;
1311 
disease prevention; chronic disease; worksite 
health; school-site health; qualitative and quan-
titative analysis; and health economics, policy, 
law, and statistics. 
‘‘(4) REPRESENTATION.—In appointing mem-
bers of the Task Force, the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall ensure that all areas of exper-
tise described in paragraph (3) are represented; 
‘‘(B) shall ensure that such members in-
clude sufficient representatives of each of— 
‘‘(i) State health officers; 
‘‘(ii) local health officers; 
‘‘(iii) health care practitioners; and 
‘‘(iv) public health practitioners; and 
‘‘(C) shall appoint individuals who have ex-
pertise in health disparities. 
‘‘(e) SUBGROUPS.—As appropriate to maximize effi-
ciency, the Task Force may delegate authority for con-
ducting reviews and making recommendations to sub-
groups consisting of Task Force members, subject to final 
approval by the Task Force. 
‘‘(f) 
COMMUNITY
PREVENTION
STAKEHOLDERS 
BOARD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall con-
vene a community prevention stakeholders board
1312 
composed of representatives of appropriate public 
and private entities with an interest in community 
preventive services to advise the Task Force on de-
veloping, updating, publishing, and disseminating 
evidence-based recommendations on the use of com-
munity preventive services. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The members of the com-
munity prevention stakeholders board shall include 
representatives of the following: 
‘‘(A) Health care consumers and patient 
groups. 
‘‘(B) Providers of community preventive 
services, including community-based providers. 
‘‘(C) Federal departments and agencies, 
including— 
‘‘(i) appropriate health agencies and 
offices in the Department, including the 
Office of the Surgeon General of the Pub-
lic Health Service, the Office of Minority 
Health, the National Center on Minority 
Health and Health Disparities, and the Of-
fice on Women’s Health; and 
‘‘(ii) as appropriate, other Federal de-
partments and agencies whose programs
1313 
have a significant impact upon health (as 
determined by the Secretary). 
‘‘(D) Private health care payors. 
‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In accordance with 
subsection (b)(6), the community prevention stake-
holders board shall— 
‘‘(A) recommend community preventive 
services for review by the Task Force; 
‘‘(B) suggest scientific evidence for consid-
eration by the Task Force related to reviews 
undertaken by the Task Force; 
‘‘(C) provide feedback regarding draft rec-
ommendations by the Task Force; and 
‘‘(D) assist with efforts regarding dissemi-
nation of recommendations by the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
‘‘(g) DISCLOSURE AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
Members of the Task Force or the community prevention 
stakeholders board shall not be considered employees of 
the Federal Government by reason of service on the Task 
Force or the community prevention stakeholders board, 
except members of the Task Force or the community pre-
vention stakeholders board shall be considered to be spe-
cial Government employees within the meaning of section 
107 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
1314 
App.) and section 208 of title 18, United States Code, for 
the purposes of disclosure and management of conflicts 
of interest under those sections. 
‘‘(h) NO PAY; RECEIPT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES.— 
Members of the Task Force or the community prevention 
stakeholders board shall not receive any pay for service 
on the Task Force, but may receive travel expenses, in-
cluding a per diem, in accordance with applicable provi-
sions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(i) APPLICATION OF FACA.—The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) except for section 14 of 
such Act shall apply to the Task Force to the extent that 
the provisions of such Act do not conflict with the provi-
sions of this title. 
‘‘(j) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress an annual report on the Task Force, including 
with respect to gaps identified and recommendations made 
under subsection (b)(4). 
‘‘Subtitle D—Prevention and 
Wellness Research 
‘‘SEC. 3141. PREVENTION AND WELLNESS RESEARCH ACTIV-
ITY COORDINATION. 
‘‘In conducting or supporting research on prevention 
and wellness, the Director of the Centers for Disease Con-
1315 
trol and Prevention, the Director of the National Insti-
tutes of Health, and the heads of other agencies within 
the Department of Health and Human Services con-
ducting or supporting such research, shall take into con-
sideration the national strategy under section 3121 and 
the recommendations of the Task Force on Clinical Pre-
ventive Services under section 3131 and the Task Force 
on Community Preventive Services under section 3132. 
‘‘SEC. 3142. COMMUNITY PREVENTION AND WELLNESS RE-
SEARCH GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, shall conduct, or award grants to eligible entities 
to conduct, research in priority areas identified by the Sec-
retary in the national strategy under section 3121 or by 
the Task Force on Community Preventive Services as re-
quired by section 3132. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, an entity shall be— 
‘‘(1) a State, local, or tribal department of 
health; 
‘‘(2) a public or private nonprofit entity; or 
‘‘(3) a consortium of 2 or more entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2).
1316 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress an annual report on the program of research 
under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 3143. RESEARCH ON SUBSIDIES AND REWARDS TO 
ENCOURAGE WELLNESS AND HEALTHY BE-
HAVIORS. 
‘‘(a) RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall con-
duct, or award grants to public or nonprofit private 
entities to conduct, research and demonstration 
projects on the use of financial and in-kind subsidies 
and rewards to encourage individuals and commu-
nities to promote wellness, adopt healthy behaviors, 
and use evidence-based preventive health services. 
‘‘(2) FOCUS.—Research and demonstration 
projects under paragraph (1) shall focus on— 
‘‘(A) tobacco use, obesity, and other pre-
vention and wellness priorities identified by the 
Secretary in the national strategy under section 
3121; 
‘‘(B) the initiation, maintenance, and long- 
term sustainability of wellness promotion; adop-
tion of healthy behaviors; and use of evidence- 
based preventive health services; and
1317 
‘‘(C) populations at high risk of prevent-
able diseases and conditions. 
‘‘(b) FINDINGS; REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) SUBMISSION OF FINDINGS.—The Secretary 
shall submit the findings of research and demonstra-
tion projects under subsection (a) to— 
‘‘(A) the Task Force on Clinical Preventive 
Services established under section 3131 or the 
Task Force on Community Preventive Services 
established under section 3132, as appropriate; 
and 
‘‘(B) the Health Benefits Advisory Com-
mittee established by section 223 of the Afford-
able Health Care for America Act. 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
18 months after the initiation of research and dem-
onstration projects under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall submit a report to the Congress on the 
progress of such research and projects, including 
any preliminary findings. 
‘‘(c) INCLUSION
IN ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACK-
AGE.—If, on the basis of the findings of research and dem-
onstration projects under subsection (a) or other sources 
consistent with section 3131, the Task Force on Clinical 
Preventive Services determines that a subsidy or reward
1318 
meets the Task Force’s standards for a grade A or B, 
the Secretary shall ensure that the subsidy or reward is 
included in the essential benefits package under section 
222. 
‘‘(d) INCLUSION AS ALLOWABLE USE OF COMMUNITY 
PREVENTION AND WELLNESS SERVICES GRANTS.—If, on 
the basis of the findings of research and demonstration 
projects under subsection (a) or other sources consistent 
with section 3132, the Task Force on Community Preven-
tive Services determines that a subsidy or reward is effec-
tive, the Secretary shall ensure that the subsidy or reward 
becomes an allowable use of grant funds under section 
3151. 
‘‘(e) NONDISCRIMINATION; NO TIE TO PREMIUM OR 
COST SHARING.—In carrying out this section, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that any subsidy or reward— 
‘‘(1) does not have a discriminatory effect on 
the basis of any personal characteristic extraneous 
to the provision of high-quality health care or related 
services; and 
‘‘(2) is not tied to the premium or cost sharing 
of an individual under any qualified health benefits 
plan (as defined in section 100(c)).
1319 
‘‘Subtitle E—Delivery of Commu-
nity Prevention and Wellness 
Services 
‘‘SEC. 3151. COMMUNITY PREVENTION AND WELLNESS 
SERVICES GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, shall establish a program for the delivery of com-
munity prevention and wellness services consisting of 
awarding grants to eligible entities— 
‘‘(1) to provide evidence-based, community pre-
vention and wellness services in priority areas identi-
fied by the Secretary in the national strategy under 
section 3121; or 
‘‘(2) to plan such services. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be— 
‘‘(A) a State, local, or tribal department of 
health; 
‘‘(B) a public or private entity; or 
‘‘(C) a consortium that— 
‘‘(i) consists of 2 or more entities de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) or (B); and
1320 
‘‘(ii) may be a community partnership 
representing a Health Empowerment Zone. 
‘‘(2) HEALTH EMPOWERMENT ZONE.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘Health Empowerment Zone’ 
means an area— 
‘‘(A) in which multiple community preven-
tion and wellness services are implemented in 
order to address one or more health disparities, 
including those identified by the Secretary in 
the national strategy under section 3121; and 
‘‘(B) which is represented by a community 
partnership that demonstrates community sup-
port and coordination with State, local, or tribal 
health departments and includes— 
‘‘(i) a broad cross section of stake-
holders; 
‘‘(ii) residents of the community; and 
‘‘(iii) representatives of entities that 
have a history of working within and serv-
ing the community. 
‘‘(c) PREFERENCES.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities 
that—
1321 
‘‘(1) will address one or more goals or objec-
tives identified by the Secretary in the national 
strategy under section 3121; 
‘‘(2) will address significant health disparities, 
including those identified by the Secretary in the na-
tional strategy under section 3121; 
‘‘(3) will address unmet community prevention 
and wellness needs and avoid duplication of effort; 
‘‘(4) have been demonstrated to be effective in 
communities comparable to the proposed target com-
munity; 
‘‘(5) will contribute to the evidence base for 
community prevention and wellness services; 
‘‘(6) demonstrate that the community preven-
tion and wellness services to be funded will be sus-
tainable; and 
‘‘(7) demonstrate coordination or collaboration 
across governmental and nongovernmental partners. 
‘‘(d) HEALTH DISPARITIES.—Of the funds awarded 
under this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
award not less than 50 percent for planning or imple-
menting community prevention and wellness services 
whose primary purpose is to achieve a measurable reduc-
tion in one or more health disparities, including those
1322 
identified by the Secretary in the national strategy under 
section 3121. 
‘‘(e) EMPHASIS ON RECOMMENDED SERVICES.—For 
fiscal year 2014 and subsequent fiscal years, the Secretary 
shall award grants under this section only for planning 
or implementing services recommended by the Task Force 
on Community Preventive Services under section 3132 or 
deemed effective based on a review of comparable rigor 
(as determined by the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention). 
‘‘(f) PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS.—An entity that 
receives a grant under this section may not use funds pro-
vided through the grant— 
‘‘(1) to build or acquire real property or for 
construction; or 
‘‘(2) for services or planning to the extent that 
payment has been made, or can reasonably be ex-
pected to be made— 
‘‘(A) under any insurance policy; 
‘‘(B) under any Federal or State health 
benefits program (including titles XIX and XXI 
of the Social Security Act); or 
‘‘(C) by an entity which provides health 
services on a prepaid basis.
1323 
‘‘(g) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress an annual report on the program of grants 
awarded under this section. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘evi-
dence-based’ means that methodologically sound research 
has demonstrated a beneficial health effect, in the judg-
ment of the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. 
‘‘Subtitle F—Core Public Health 
Infrastructure 
‘‘SEC. 3161. CORE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 
STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL HEALTH DEPART-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion, shall establish a core public health infrastructure 
program consisting of awarding grants under subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) AWARD.—For the purpose of addressing 
core public health infrastructure needs, the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(A) shall award a grant to each State 
health department; and
1324 
‘‘(B) may award grants on a competitive 
basis to State, local, or tribal health depart-
ments. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the total amount of 
funds awarded as grants under this subsection for a 
fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) not less than 50 percent shall be for 
grants to State health departments under para-
graph (1)(A); and 
‘‘(B) not less than 30 percent shall be for 
grants to State, local, or tribal health depart-
ments under paragraph (1)(B). 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may award a 
grant to an entity under subsection (b)(1) only if the enti-
ty agrees to use the grant to address core public health 
infrastructure needs, including those identified in the ac-
creditation process under subsection (g). 
‘‘(d) FORMULA GRANTS TO STATE HEALTH DEPART-
MENTS.—In making grants under subsection (b)(1)(A), 
the Secretary shall award funds to each State health de-
partment in accordance with— 
‘‘(1) a formula based on population size; burden 
of preventable disease and disability; and core public 
health infrastructure gaps, including those identified
1325 
in the accreditation process under subsection (g); 
and 
‘‘(2) application requirements established by the 
Secretary, including a requirement that the State 
submit a plan that demonstrates to the satisfaction 
of the Secretary that the State’s health department 
will— 
‘‘(A) address its highest priority core pub-
lic health infrastructure needs; and 
‘‘(B) as appropriate, allocate funds to local 
health departments within the State. 
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO STATE, LOCAL, AND 
TRIBAL
HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS.—In making grants 
under subsection (b)(1)(B), the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to applicants demonstrating core public health infra-
structure needs identified in the accreditation process 
under subsection (g). 
‘‘(f) MAINTENANCE
OF EFFORT.—The Secretary 
may award a grant to an entity under subsection (b) only 
if the entity demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Sec-
retary that— 
‘‘(1) funds received through the grant will be 
expended only to supplement, and not supplant, non- 
Federal and Federal funds otherwise available to the
1326 
entity for the purpose of addressing core public 
health infrastructure needs; and 
‘‘(2) with respect to activities for which the 
grant is awarded, the entity will maintain expendi-
tures of non-Federal amounts for such activities at 
a level not less than the level of such expenditures 
maintained by the entity for the fiscal year pre-
ceding the fiscal year for which the entity receives 
the grant. 
‘‘(g) ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH AC-
CREDITATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, shall— 
‘‘(A) develop, and periodically review and 
update, standards for voluntary accreditation of 
State, local, or tribal health departments and 
public health laboratories for the purpose of ad-
vancing the quality and performance of such de-
partments and laboratories; and 
‘‘(B) implement a program to accredit 
such health departments and laboratories in ac-
cordance with such standards. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT.—The Sec-
retary may enter into a cooperative agreement with
1327 
a private nonprofit entity to carry out paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(h) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress an annual report on progress being made to ac-
credit entities under subsection (g), including— 
‘‘(1) a strategy, including goals and objectives, 
for accrediting entities under subsection (g) and 
achieving the purpose described in subsection (g)(1); 
and 
‘‘(2) identification of gaps in research related to 
core public health infrastructure and recommenda-
tions of priority areas for such research. 
‘‘SEC. 3162. CORE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
ACTIVITIES FOR CDC. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, shall expand and improve the core public health 
infrastructure and activities of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention to address unmet and emerging 
public health needs. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress an annual report on the activities funded 
through this section.
1328 
‘‘Subtitle G—General Provisions 
‘‘SEC. 3171. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘core public health infrastruc-
ture’ includes workforce capacity and competency; 
laboratory systems; health information, health infor-
mation systems, and health information analysis; 
communications; financing; other relevant compo-
nents of organizational capacity; and other related 
activities. 
‘‘(2) The terms ‘Department’ and ‘depart-
mental’ refer to the Department of Health and 
Human Services. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘health disparities’ includes 
health and health care disparities and means popu-
lation-specific differences in the presence of disease, 
health outcomes, or access to health care. For pur-
poses of the preceding sentence, a population may be 
delineated by race, ethnicity, primary language, sex, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socio-
economic status, or rural, urban, or other geographic 
setting, and any other population or subpopulation 
determined by the Secretary to experience significant 
gaps in disease, health outcomes, or access to health 
care.
1329 
‘‘(4) The term ‘tribal’ refers to an Indian tribe, 
a Tribal organization, or an Urban Indian organiza-
tion, as such terms are defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Health Care Improvement Act.’’. 
(b) TRANSITION PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO TASK 
FORCES.— 
(1) FUNCTIONS, PERSONNEL, ASSETS, LIABIL-
ITIES, AND
ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIONS.—All func-
tions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of, and ad-
ministrative actions applicable to, the Preventive 
Services Task Force convened under section 915(a) 
of the Public Health Service Act and the Task Force 
on Community Preventive Services (as such section 
and Task Forces were in existence on the day before 
the date of the enactment of this Act) shall be trans-
ferred to the Task Force on Clinical Preventive 
Services and the Task Force on Community Preven-
tive Services, respectively, established under sections 
3131 and 3132 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
added by subsection (a). 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—All recommendations 
of the Preventive Services Task Force and the Task 
Force on Community Preventive Services, as in ex-
istence on the day before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, shall be considered to be recommenda-
1330 
tions of the Task Force on Clinical Preventive Serv-
ices and the Task Force on Community Preventive 
Services, respectively, established under sections 
3131 and 3132 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
added by subsection (a). 
(3) MEMBERS ALREADY SERVING.— 
(A) INITIAL MEMBERS.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services may select those 
individuals already serving on the Preventive 
Services Task Force and the Task Force on 
Community Preventive Services, as in existence 
on the day before the date of the enactment of 
this Act, to be among the first members ap-
pointed to the Task Force on Clinical Preven-
tive Services and the Task Force on Commu-
nity Preventive Services, respectively, under sec-
tions 3131 and 3132 of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act, as added by subsection (a). 
(B) CALCULATION OF TOTAL SERVICE.—In 
calculating the total years of service of a mem-
ber of a task force for purposes of section 
3131(d)(2)(A) or 3132(d)(2)(A) of the Public 
Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall not include any period of service by the
1331 
member on the Preventive Services Task Force 
or the Task Force on Community Preventive 
Services, respectively, as in existence on the day 
before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) PERIOD BEFORE COMPLETION
OF NATIONAL 
STRATEGY.—Pending completion of the national strategy 
under section 3121 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the relevant agency head, 
may make a judgment about how the strategy will address 
an issue and rely on such judgment in carrying out any 
provision of subtitle C, D, E, or F of title XXXI of such 
Act, as added by subsection (a), that requires the Sec-
retary— 
(1) to take into consideration such strategy; 
(2) to conduct or support research or provide 
services in priority areas identified in such strategy; 
or 
(3) to take any other action in reliance on such 
strategy. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Paragraph (61) of section 3(b) of the In-
dian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 
1602) is amended by striking ‘‘United States Pre-
1332 
ventive Services Task Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Task 
Force on Clinical Preventive Services’’. 
(2) Section 126 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 
2000 (Appendix F of Public Law 106–554) is 
amended by striking ‘‘United States Preventive 
Services Task Force’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘Task Force on Clinical Preventive Serv-
ices’’. 
(3) Paragraph (7) of section 317D(a) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–5(a)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘United States Preventive 
Services Task Force’’ and inserting ‘‘Task Force on 
Clinical Preventive Services’’. 
(4) Section 915 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 299b–4) is amended by striking sub-
section (a). 
(5) Subsections (s)(2)(AA)(iii)(II), (xx)(1), and 
(ddd)(1)(B) of section 1861 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) are amended by striking 
‘‘United States Preventive Services Task Force’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Task Force on 
Clinical Preventive Services’’.
1333 
TITLE IV—QUALITY AND 
SURVEILLANCE 
SEC. 2401. IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST PRACTICES IN THE 
DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IX of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating part D as part E; 
(2) by redesignating sections 931 through 938 
as sections 941 through 948, respectively; 
(3) in section 948(1), as redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘931’’ and inserting ‘‘941’’; and 
(4) by inserting after part C the following: 
‘‘PART D—IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST 
PRACTICES IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE 
‘‘SEC. 931. CENTER FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Center 
for Quality Improvement (referred to in this part as the 
‘Center’), to be headed by the Director. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Director 
shall 
prioritize areas for the identification, development, 
evaluation, and implementation of best practices (in-
cluding innovative methodologies and strategies) for 
quality improvement activities in the delivery of