135 
TITLE III—HEALTH WORKFORCE 
DIVERSITY 
SEC. 301. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
ACT. 
Title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as 
added by section 202, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘Subtitle A—Diversifying the 
Health Care Workplace 
‘‘SEC. 3411. REPORT ON WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2012, and 
biannually thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the 
director of each entity within the Department of Health 
and Human Services, shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives a report on health work-
force diversity. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENT.—The report under subsection 
(a) shall contain the following information: 
‘‘(1) A description of any grant support that is 
provided by each entity for workforce diversity ini-
tiatives with the following information— 
‘‘(A) the number of grants made; 
‘‘(B) the purpose of the grants; 
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‘‘(C) the populations served through the 
grants; 
‘‘(D) the organizations and institutions re-
ceiving the grants; and 
‘‘(E) the tracking efforts that were used to 
follow the progress of participants. 
‘‘(2) A description of the entity’s plan to 
achieve workforce diversity goals that includes, to 
the extent relevant to such entity— 
‘‘(A) the number of underrepresented mi-
nority health professionals that will be needed 
in various disciplines over the next 10 years to 
achieve population parity; 
‘‘(B) the level of funding needed to fully 
expand and adequately support health profes-
sions pipeline programs; 
‘‘(C) the impact such programs have had 
on the admissions practices and policies of 
health professions schools; 
‘‘(D) the management strategy necessary 
to effectively administer and institutionalize 
health profession pipeline programs; and 
‘‘(E) the impact that the Government Per-
formance and Results Act (GPRA) has had on 
evaluating the performance of grantees and 
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whether the GPRA is the best assessment tool 
for programs under titles VII and VIII. 
‘‘(3) A description of measurable objectives of 
each entity relating to workforce diversity initiatives. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The report under sub-
section (a) shall be made available for public review and 
comment. 
‘‘SEC. 3412. NATIONAL WORKING GROUP ON WORKFORCE 
DIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Bureau of Health Professions within the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, shall award a grant 
to an entity determined appropriate by the Secretary for 
the establishment of a national working group on work-
force diversity. 
‘‘(b) REPRESENTATION.—In establishing the national 
working group under subsection (a): 
‘‘(1) The grantee shall ensure that the group 
has representatives of the following: 
‘‘(A) The Health Resources and Services 
Administration. 
‘‘(B) The Department of Health and 
Human Services Data Council. 
‘‘(C) The Office of Minority Health. 
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‘‘(D) The Bureau of Labor Statistics of 
the Department of Labor. 
‘‘(E) The Public Health Practice Program 
Office—Office of Workforce Policy and Plan-
ning. 
‘‘(F) The National Institute on Minority 
Health and Health Disparities. 
‘‘(G) The Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality. 
‘‘(H) The Institute of Medicine Study 
Committee for the 2004 workforce diversity re-
port. 
‘‘(I) The Indian Health Service. 
‘‘(J) Minority-serving academic institu-
tions. 
‘‘(K) Consumer organizations. 
‘‘(L) Health professional associations, in-
cluding those that represent underrepresented 
minority populations. 
‘‘(M) Researchers in the area of health 
workforce. 
‘‘(N) Health workforce accreditation enti-
ties. 
‘‘(O) Private foundations that have spon-
sored workforce diversity initiatives. 
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‘‘(2) The grantee shall ensure that, in addition 
to the representatives under paragraph (1), the 
group has not less than 5 health professions stu-
dents representing various health profession fields 
and levels of training. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—The working group established 
under subsection (a) shall convene at least twice each year 
to complete the following activities: 
‘‘(1) Review current public and private health 
workforce diversity initiatives. 
‘‘(2) Identify successful health workforce diver-
sity programs and practices. 
‘‘(3) Examine challenges relating to the devel-
opment and implementation of health workforce di-
versity initiatives. 
‘‘(4) Draft a national strategic work plan for 
health workforce diversity, including recommenda-
tions for public and private sector initiatives. 
‘‘(5) Develop a framework and methods for the 
evaluation of current and future health workforce di-
versity initiatives. 
‘‘(6) Develop recommended standards for work-
force diversity that could be applicable to all health 
professions programs and programs funded under 
this Act. 
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‘‘(7) Develop curriculum guidelines for diversity 
training. 
‘‘(8) Develop a strategy for the inclusion of 
community members on admissions committees for 
health profession schools. 
‘‘(9) Other activities determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the establishment of the working group under subsection 
(a), and annually thereafter, the working group shall pre-
pare and make available to the general public for com-
ment, an annual report on the activities of the working 
group. Such report shall include the recommendations of 
the working group for improving health workforce diver-
sity. 
‘‘(e) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 3413. TECHNICAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR HEALTH 
WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Office of Minority Health, and in collaboration with 
the Bureau of Health Professions within the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, the National Insti-
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may include minority health professional associations to 
ensure the adequacy and accuracy of information. 
‘‘(d) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 3414. SUPPORT FOR INSTITUTIONS COMMITTED TO 
WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, shall award grants to eligible entities that 
demonstrate a commitment to health workforce diversity. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a), an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) be an educational institution or entity that 
historically produces or trains meaningful numbers 
of underrepresented minority health professionals, 
including— 
‘‘(A) historically Black colleges and univer-
sities; 
‘‘(B) Hispanic-serving health professions 
schools; 
‘‘(C) Hispanic-serving institutions; 
‘‘(D) tribal colleges and universities; 
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‘‘(E) Asian-American, Native American, 
and Pacific Islander-serving institutions; 
‘‘(F) institutions that have programs to re-
cruit and retain underrepresented minority 
health professionals, in which a significant 
number of the enrolled participants are under-
represented minorities; 
‘‘(G) 
health 
professional 
associations, 
which may include underrepresented minority 
health professional associations; and 
‘‘(H) institutions— 
‘‘(i) located in communities with pre-
dominantly underrepresented minority pop-
ulations; 
‘‘(ii) with whom partnerships have 
been formed for the purpose of increasing 
workforce diversity; and 
‘‘(iii) in which at least 20 percent of 
the enrolled participants are underrep-
resented minorities; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts received under a 
grant under subsection (a) shall be used to expand existing 
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workforce diversity programs, implement new workforce 
diversity programs, or evaluate existing or new workforce 
diversity programs, including with respect to mental 
health care professions. Such programs shall enhance di-
versity by considering minority status as part of an indi-
vidualized consideration of qualifications. Possible activi-
ties may include— 
‘‘(1) educational outreach programs relating to 
opportunities in the health professions; 
‘‘(2) scholarship, fellowship, grant, loan repay-
ment, and loan cancellation programs; 
‘‘(3) postbaccalaureate programs; 
‘‘(4) academic enrichment programs, particu-
larly targeting those who would not be competitive 
for health professions schools; 
‘‘(5) kindergarten through 12th grade and 
other health pipeline programs; 
‘‘(6) mentoring programs; 
‘‘(7) internship or rotation programs involving 
hospitals, health systems, health plans and other 
health entities; 
‘‘(8) community partnership development for 
purposes relating to workforce diversity; or 
‘‘(9) leadership training. 
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‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after receiving 
a grant under this section, and annually for the term of 
the grant, a grantee shall submit to the Secretary a report 
that summarizes and evaluates all activities conducted 
under the grant. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘Asian- 
American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-serving 
institutions’ has the same meaning as the term ‘Asian 
American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
institution’ as defined in section 371(c) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)). 
‘‘(f) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 3415. CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR SCIENTISTS AND 
RESEARCHERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Di-
rector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Director 
of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall 
award grants that expand existing opportunities for sci-
entists and researchers and promote the inclusion of 
underrepresented minorities in the health professions. 
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‘‘(b) RESEARCH FUNDING.—The head of each entity 
within the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall establish or expand existing programs to provide re-
search funding to scientists and researchers in training. 
Under such programs, the head of each such entity shall 
give priority in allocating research funding to support 
health research in traditionally underserved communities, 
including underrepresented minority communities, and re-
search classified as community or participatory. 
‘‘(c) DATA COLLECTION.—The head of each entity 
within the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall collect data on the number (expressed as an absolute 
number and a percentage) of underrepresented minority 
and nonminority applicants who receive and are denied 
agency funding at every stage of review. Such data shall 
be reported annually to the Secretary and the appropriate 
committees of Congress. 
‘‘(d) STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a student loan reimbursement pro-
gram to provide student loan reimbursement assistance to 
researchers who focus on racial and ethnic disparities in 
health. The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to de-
fine the scope and procedures for the program under this 
subsection. 
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‘‘(e) STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a student loan cancellation program 
to provide student loan cancellation assistance to research-
ers who focus on racial and ethnic disparities in health. 
Students participating in the program shall make a min-
imum 5-year commitment to work at an accredited health 
profession school. The Secretary shall promulgate addi-
tional regulations to define the scope and procedures for 
the program under this subsection. 
‘‘(f) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 
3416. 
CAREER 
SUPPORT 
FOR 
NON-RESEARCH 
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, the Administrator 
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and 
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Med-
icaid Services shall establish a program to award grants 
to eligible individuals for career support in non-research- 
related health care. 
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‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a) an individual shall— 
‘‘(1) be a student in a health professions school, 
a graduate of such a school who is working in a 
health profession, or a faculty member of such a 
school; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) USE
OF
FUNDS.—An individual shall use 
amounts received under a grant under this section to— 
‘‘(1) support the individual’s health activities or 
projects that involve underserved communities, in-
cluding racial and ethnic minority communities; 
‘‘(2) support health-related career advancement 
activities; 
‘‘(3) to pay, or as reimbursement for payments 
of, student loans for individuals who are health pro-
fessionals and are focused on health issues affecting 
underserved communities, including racial and eth-
nic minority communities; and 
‘‘(4) to establish and promote leadership train-
ing programs to decrease health disparities and to 
increase cultural competence with the goal of in-
creasing diversity in leadership positions. 
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‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘career 
in non-research-related health care’ means employment or 
intended employment in the field of public health, health 
policy, health management, health administration, medi-
cine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, social work, psychi-
atry, other mental and behavioral health, allied health, 
community health, social work, or other fields determined 
appropriate by the Secretary, other than in a position that 
involves research. 
‘‘(e) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 3417. RESEARCH ON THE EFFECT OF WORKFORCE DI-
VERSITY ON QUALITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality, in collaboration with 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and 
the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health 
and Health Disparities, shall award grants to eligible enti-
ties to expand research on the link between health work-
force diversity and quality health care. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a) an entity shall— 
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‘‘(1) be a clinical, public health, or health serv-
ices research entity or other entity determined ap-
propriate by the Director; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts received under a 
grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be used to sup-
port research that investigates the effect of health work-
force diversity on— 
‘‘(1) language access; 
‘‘(2) cultural competence; 
‘‘(3) patient satisfaction; 
‘‘(4) timeliness of care; 
‘‘(5) safety of care; 
‘‘(6) effectiveness of care; 
‘‘(7) efficiency of care; 
‘‘(8) patient outcomes; 
‘‘(9) community engagement; 
‘‘(10) resource allocation; 
‘‘(11) organizational structure; 
‘‘(12) compliance of care; or 
‘‘(13) other topics determined appropriate by 
the Director. 
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‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under sub-
section (a), the Director shall give individualized consider-
ation to all relevant aspects of the applicant’s background. 
Consideration of prior research experience involving the 
health of underserved communities shall be such a factor. 
‘‘(e) 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 
2012 through 2017. 
‘‘SEC. 3418. HEALTH DISPARITIES EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the National Institute on Minority Health and 
Health Disparities and in collaboration with the Office of 
Minority Health, the Office for Civil Rights, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medi-
care & Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and Serv-
ices Administration, and other appropriate public and pri-
vate entities, shall establish and coordinate a health and 
health care disparities education program to support, de-
velop, and implement educational initiatives and outreach 
strategies that inform health care professionals and the 
public about the existence of and methods to reduce racial 
and ethnic disparities in health and health care. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary, through the edu-
cation program established under subsection (a) shall, 
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and Human Services shall submit to Congress 
a report that describes the per capita income 
data used to promulgate the Federal medical 
assistance percentage in the territories and how 
such data differ from the per capita income 
data used to promulgate Federal medical assist-
ance percentages for the 50 States and the Dis-
trict of Columbia. The report should include 
recommendations on how the Federal medical 
assistance percentages can be calculated for the 
territories to ensure parity with the 50 States 
and the District of Columbia. 
(B) APPLICATION.—Section 1101(a)(8)(B) 
of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1308(a)(8)(B)) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(other than Puerto 
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and 
Guam)’’ and inserting ‘‘(including Puerto 
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and American Samoa)’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(or, if such satisfac-
tory data are not available in the case of 
the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern 
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