‘‘(F) require the Surgeon General to assess 
the state of vision care and vision rehabilitation 
in the United States. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall expand 
and intensify research within the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention on the prevention and 
management of vision loss. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) build partnerships with voluntary 
health organizations, nonprofit vision rehabilita-
tion agencies, Federal, State, and local public 
health agencies, eye health professional organi-
zations, and organizations with an interest in 
vision issues; 
‘‘(B) work with health care systems to bet-
ter address vision problems and associated dis-
abilities; and 
‘‘(C) award grants for community outreach 
regarding vision loss to health care institutions 
and national vision organizations with broad 
community presence.’’. 
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SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF VISION PROGRAMS UNDER THE MA-
TERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICE BLOCK 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 501(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 701(a)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (F) and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) introduce core performance measures 
on eye health by incorporating vision screening 
and examination standards into State programs 
under this title, based on scientific studies.’’. 
SEC. 5. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR UNDER-
SERVED, 
MINORITY, 
AND 
OTHER 
POPU-
LATIONS. 
(a) EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF VISION 
PROGRAMS.—The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
expand and intensify programs targeted to prevent vision 
loss, treat eye and vision conditions, and rehabilitate peo-
ple of all ages who are blind or partially sighted in under-
served and minority communities, including the following: 
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(1) Vision care services at community health 
centers receiving assistance under section 330 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b). 
(2) Vision rehabilitation programs at vision re-
habilitation agencies, eye clinics, and hospitals. 
(b) VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES FOR VISION SCREEN-
ING.—The Secretary, in consultation with eye-health pro-
fessional organizations and other vision-related organiza-
tions, shall develop voluntary guidelines to ensure the 
quality of vision screening and appropriate referral for 
comprehensive eye examinations and subsequent vision re-
habilitation services. 
SEC. 6. VISION REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP-
MENT GRANTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) may make grants to eligible institutions of higher 
education or nonprofit organizations for the purpose of ac-
tivities described in subsection (b) relating to vision reha-
bilitation professional development. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may not make 
a grant to an institution of higher education or a nonprofit 
organization under this section unless the institution or 
organization agrees to use the grant for the following: 
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(1) Developing and offering preparatory and 
continuing education training opportunities (incor-
porating state-of-the-art approaches, technologies, 
and therapies to meet the unique needs of older 
adults with vision loss) in— 
(A) geriatrics among vision rehabilitation 
professionals, including professionals in the vi-
sion rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mo-
bility, and low vision therapy fields; and 
(B) vision rehabilitation among occupa-
tional therapists and others in related rehabili-
tation and health disciplines. 
(2) Conducting, and disseminating the findings 
and conclusions of, research on the effectiveness of 
preparatory and continuing education training under 
paragraph (1). 
(3) Developing and disseminating interdiscipli-
nary course curricula for use in the preparation of 
new professionals in vision rehabilitation, occupa-
tional therapy, and related rehabilitation and health 
disciplines. 
(4) Educating physicians, nurses, and other 
health care providers about the value of vision reha-
bilitation, to increase appropriate referral by such 
professionals for the full range of vision rehabilita-
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tion services available to older individuals with vision 
loss. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be a university, aca-
demic medical center, national or regional nonprofit orga-
nization, community rehabilitation provider, or allied 
health education program, or a consortium of such enti-
ties, that— 
(1) offers or coordinates education or training 
activities among professionals described in sub-
section (b)(1); or 
(2) agrees to use the grant to expand its capac-
ity to coordinate such activities. 
(d) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.—In awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grant-
ees offer or coordinate training for current and emerging 
professionals— 
(1) from a variety of geographic regions and a 
range of different types and sizes of settings and fa-
cilities, including settings and facilities located in 
rural, urban, and suburban areas; and 
(2) serving a variety of populations of older in-
dividuals with vision loss, including racial and ethnic 
minorities, low-income individuals, and other under-
served populations. 
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(e) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require. 
Æ 
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