an existing telehealth network that is or may be used 
for improving stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, 
and rehabilitation, or to a consortium located in such 
a State, unless the State or consortium agrees that—
‘‘(A) the State or consortium will use an ex-
isting telehealth network to achieve the purpose 
of the grant; and 
‘‘(B) the State or consortium will not estab-
lish a separate network for such purpose. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any appli-
cant that submits a plan demonstrating how the applicant, 
and where applicable the members of the consortium de-
scribed in subsection (d)(2), will use the grant to improve 
access to high-quality stroke care for populations with 
shortages of stroke-care specialists and populations with a 
high incidence of stroke. 
‘‘(f) GRANT PERIOD.—The Secretary may not award 
a grant to a State or a consortium under this section for 
any period that—
‘‘(1) is greater than 3 years; or 
‘‘(2) extends beyond the end of fiscal year 2009. 
‘‘(g) RESTRICTION ON NUMBER OF GRANTS.—In car-
rying out the 5-year pilot project under this section, the 
Secretary may not award more than 7 grants.
‘‘(h) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, a State or a consortium of public and private entities 
shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. At a minimum, the Secretary shall 
require each such application to outline how the State or 
consortium will establish baseline measures and benchmarks 
to evaluate program outcomes. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘stroke’ 
means a ‘brain attack’ in which blood flow to the brain 
is interrupted or in which a blood vessel or aneurysm in 
the brain breaks or ruptures. 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $13,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $8,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.’’. 
(b) STUDY; REPORTS.—
(1) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 
2010, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall conduct a study of the results of the telehealth 
stroke treatment grant program under section 330M 
of the Public Health Service Act (added by subsection 
(a)) and submit to the Congress a report on such re-
sults that includes the following:
(A) An evaluation of the grant program 
outcomes, including quantitative analysis of 
baseline and benchmark measures. 
(B) Recommendations on how to promote 
stroke networks in ways that improve access to 
clinical care in rural and urban areas and re-
duce the incidence of stroke and the debilitating 
and costly complications resulting from stroke. 
(C) Recommendations on whether similar 
telehealth grant programs could be used to im-
prove patient outcomes in other public health 
areas. 
(2) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Secretary of Health 
and Human Services may provide interim reports to 
the Congress on the telehealth stroke treatment grant 
program under section 330M of the Public Health 
Service Act (added by subsection (a)) at such inter-
vals as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish Fed-
eral standards for the treatment of patients or the licensure 
of health care professionals.
Union Calendar No. 260
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3658
[Report No. 108–453] 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to 
strengthen education, prevention, and treatment 
programs relating to stroke, and for other pur-
poses. 
MARCH 30, 2004
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed