‘‘(D) actions that advance the development 
and adoption of open application programming 
interfaces and other emerging technologies to 
increase transparency and interoperability, em-
power patients, and facilitate better integration 
of clinical and administrative functions; 
‘‘(E) actions to be taken by the Secretary 
and actions that need to be taken by other enti-
ties; and 
‘‘(F) other areas, as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate, to reduce unnecessary costs 
and administrative burdens required of health 
care providers. 
‘‘(4) CONSISTENCY.—Any improvements in 
electronic processes proposed by the Secretary under 
this section should leverage existing information 
technology definitions under Federal law. Specifi-
cally, any electronic processes should not be con-
strued to include a facsimile, a proprietary payer 
portal that does not meet standards specified by the 
Secretary, or an electronic form image. 
‘‘(5) ACTIONS.—The Secretary shall take action 
to achieve the goal established under subsection 
(a)(1), and, not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter, 
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submit to Congress and make publically available, a 
report describing the actions taken by the Secretary 
pursuant to goals, strategies, and recommendations 
described in this subsection. 
‘‘(6) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the develop-
ment of the goal, strategies, recommendations, or 
actions described in this section. 
‘‘(7) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to authorize, or be 
used by, the Federal Government to inhibit or other-
wise restrain efforts made to reduce waste, fraud, 
and abuse across the health care system. 
‘‘SEC. 282. GRANTS TO STATES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLE-
MENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCELERATE 
STATE INNOVATION TO REDUCE HEALTH 
CARE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall award grants to at least 15 States, and 
one coordinating entity designated as provided for 
under subsection (e), to enable such States to estab-
lish and administer private-public multi-stakeholder 
commissions for the purpose of reducing health care 
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administrative costs and burden within and across 
States. Not less than 3 of such grants shall be 
awarded to States that are primarily rural, frontier, 
or a combination thereof, in nature. 
‘‘(2) ENTITIES.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘State’ means a State, a State-designated 
entity, or a multi-State collaborative (as defined by 
the Secretary). 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to applica-
tions submitted by States that propose to carry out 
a pilot program or support the adoption of electronic 
health care transactions and operating rules. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under subsection (a), a State shall submit to 
the Secretary an application in such a manner and 
containing such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require, including the information de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—In addition to 
any additional information required by the Secretary 
under this subsection, an application shall include a 
description of— 
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‘‘(A) the size and composition of the com-
mission to be established under the grant, in-
cluding the stakeholders represented and the 
degree to which the commission reflects impor-
tant geographic and population characteristics 
of the State; 
‘‘(B) the relationship of the commission to 
the State official responsible for coordinating 
and implementing the recommendations result-
ing from the commission, and the role and re-
sponsibilities of the State with respect to the 
commission, including any participation, review, 
oversight, implementation, or other related 
functions; 
‘‘(C) the history and experience of the 
State in addressing health care administrative 
costs, and any experience similar to the purpose 
of the commission to improve health care ad-
ministrative processes and the exchange of 
health care administrative data; 
‘‘(D) the resources and expertise that will 
be made available to the commission by com-
mission members or other possible sources, and 
how Federal funds will be used to leverage and 
complement these resources; 
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‘‘(E) the governance structure and proce-
dures that the commission will follow to make, 
implement, and pilot recommendations; 
‘‘(F) the proposed objectives relating to the 
simplification of administrative transactions 
and operating rules, increased standardization, 
and the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
transmission of health information; 
‘‘(G) potential cost savings and other im-
provements in meeting the objectives described 
in subparagraph (F); and 
‘‘(H) the method or methods by which the 
recommendations described in subsection (c) 
will be reviewed, tested, adopted, implemented, 
and updated as needed. 
‘‘(c) MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COMMISSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date on which a grant is awarded to a 
State under this section, the State official described 
in subsection (b)(2)(B), the State insurance commis-
sioner, or other appropriate State official shall con-
vene a multi-stakeholder commission, in accordance 
with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The commission convened 
under paragraph (1) shall include representatives 
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