Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000
PL 106-525 (S.1880), enacted 11/22/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2495 
Public Law 106-525 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of minority individ-
uals. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
' 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—^This Act may be cited as the "Minority 
Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000". 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
TITLE I—IMPROVING MINORITY HEALTH AND REDUCING HEALTH DIS-
PARITIES THROUGH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; ESTABLISH-
MENT OF NATIONAL CENTER 
Sec. 101. Establishment of National Center on Minority Health and Health Dis-
parities. 
Sec. 102. Centers of excellence for research education and trsdning. 
Sec. 103. Extramural loan repayment program for minority health disparities re-
search. 
Sec. 104. General provisions regarding the Center. 
Sec. 105. Report regarding resources of National Institutes of Health dedicated to 
minority and other health disparities research. 
TITLE II—HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH BY AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE 
RESEARCH AND QUALITY 
Sec. 201. Health disparities research by Agency for Healthcare Research and Qual-
ity. 
TITLE III—DATA COLLECTION RELATING TO RACE OR ETHNICITY 
Sec. 301. Study and report by National Academy of Sciences. 
TITLE IV—HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION 
Sec. 401. Health professions education in health disparities. 
Sec. 402. National conference on health professions education and health dispari-
ties. 
Sec. 403. Advisory responsibilities in health professions education in health dispari-
ties and cultural competency. 
TITLE V—PUBLIC AWARENESS AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON 
HEALTH DISPARITIES 
Sec. 501. Pubhc awareness and information dissemination. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 601. Departmental definition regarding minority individuals. 
Conforming provision regarding definitions. 
Sec 
Sec 
602. 
603. Effective date 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows 
Nov. 22, 2000 
[S. 1880] 
Minority Health 
and Health 
Disparities 
Research and 
Education Act of 
2000. 
42 u s e 202 note. 
42 u s e 287C-31 
note. 
114 STAT. 2496 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
(1) Despite notable progress in the overall health of the 
Nation, there are continuing disparities in the burden of illness 
and death experienced by African Americans, Hispanics, Native 
Americans, Alaska Natives, and Asian Pacific Islanders, com-
pared to the United States population as a whole. 
(2) The largest numbers of the medically underserved are 
white individuals, and many of them have the same health 
care access problems as do members of minority groups. Nearly 
20,000,000 white individuals live below the poverty line with 
many 
living 
in 
nonmetropolitan, 
rural 
areas 
such 
as 
Appalachia, where the high percentage of counties designated 
as health professional shortage areas (47 percent) and the 
high rate of poverty contribute to disparity outcomes. However, 
there is a higher proportion of racial and ethnic minorities 
in the United States represented among the medically under-
served. 
(3) There is a national need for minority scientists in 
the fields of biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services 
research. Ninety percent of minority physicians educated at 
Historically Black Medical Colleges live and serve in minority 
communities. 
(4) Demographic trends inspire concern about the Nation's 
ability to meet 
its 
future 
scientific, 
technological, 
and 
engineering workforce needs. Historically, non-Hispanic white 
males have made up the majority of the United States scientific, 
technological, and engineering workers. 
(5) The Hispanic and Black population will increase signifi-
cantly in the next 50 years. The scientific, technological, and 
engineering workforce may decrease if participation by under-
represented minorities remains the same. 
(6) Increasing rates of Black and Hispanic workers can 
help ensure a strong scientific, technological, and engineering 
workforce. 
(7) Individuals such as underrepresented minorities and 
women 
in the 
scientific, 
technological, 
and 
engineering 
workforce enable society to address its diverse needs. 
(8) If there had not been a substantial increase in the 
number of science and engineering degrees awarded to women 
and underrepresented minorities over the past few decades, 
the United States would be facing even greater shortages in 
scientific, technological, and engineering workers. 
(9) In order to effectively promote a diverse and strong 
21st 
century 
scientific, 
technological, 
and 
engineering 
workforce. Federal agencies should expand or add programs 
that effectively overcome barriers such as educational transition 
from one level to the next and student requirements for finan-
cial resources. 
(10) Federal agencies should work in concert with the pri-
vate nonprofit sector to emphasize the recruitment and reten-
tion of qualified individuals from ethnic and gender groups 
that are currently underrepresented in the scientific, techno-
logical, and engineering workforce. 
(11) Behavioral and social sciences research has increased 
awareness and understanding of factors associated with health 
care utilization and access, patient attitudes toward health 
services, and risk and protective behaviors that afiect health 
and illness. These factors have the potential to then be modified 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2497 
to help close the health disparities gap among ethnic minority 
populations. In addition, there is a shortage of minority behav-
ioral science researchers and behavioral health care profes-
sionals. According to the National Science Foundation, only 
15.5 percent of behavioral research-oriented psychology doc-
torate degrees were awarded to minority students in 1997. 
In addition, only 17.9 percent of practice-oriented psychology 
doctorate degrees were awarded to ethnic minorities. 
TITLE 
I—IMPROVING 
MINORITY 
HEALTH AND REDUCING HEALTH DIS-
PARITIES THROUGH NATIONAL INSTI-
TUTES OF HEALTH; ESTABLISHMENT 
OF NATIONAL CENTER 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT 
OF NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY 
HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^Part E of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following subpart: 
"Subpart 6—^National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities 
"SEC. 485E. PURPOSE OF CENTER. 
42 USC 287c-31. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^The general purpose of the National Center 
on Minority Health and Health Disparities (in this subpart referred 
to as the 'Center') is the conduct and support of research, training, 
dissemination of information, and other programs with respect to 
minority health conditions and other populations with health 
disparities. 
"(b) PRIORITIES.—^The Director of the Center shall in expending 
amounts appropriated under this subpart give priority to conducting 
and supporting minority health disparities research. 
"(c) MINORITY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH.—^For purposes 
of this subpart: 
"(1) The term 'minority health disparities research' means 
basic, clinical, and behavioral research on minority health 
conditions (as defined in paragraph (2)), including research 
to prevent, diagnose, and treat such conditions. 
"(2) The term 'minority health conditions', with respect 
to individuals who are members of minority groups, means 
£ill diseases, disorders, and conditions (including with respect 
to mental health and substance abuse)— 
"(A) unique to, more serious, or more prevalent in 
such individuals; 
"(B) for which the factors of medical risk or types 
of medical intervention may be different for such individ-
uals, or for which it is unknown whether such factors 
or types are different for such individuals; or 
"(C) with respect to which there has been insufficient 
research involving such individuals as subjects or insuffi-
cient data on such individuals. 
114 STAT. 2498 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
"(3) The term 'minority group' has the meaning given the 
term 'racial and ethnic minority group' in section 1707. 
"(4) The terms 'minority' and 'minorities' refer to individ-
uals from a minority group. 
"(d) HEALTH DISPARITY POPULATIONS.—^For purposes of this 
subpart: 
"(1) A population is a health disparity population if, as 
determined by the Director of the Center after consultation 
with the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, there is a significant disparity in the overall rate 
of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or sur-
vival rates in the population as compared to the health status 
of the general population. 
"(2) The Director shall give priority consideration to deter-
mining whether minority groups qualify as health disparity 
populations under paragraph (1). 
"(3) The term 'health disparities research' means basic, 
clinical, and behavioral research on health disparity populations 
(including individual members and communities of such popu-
lations) that relates to health disparities as defined under 
paragraph (1), including the causes of such disparities and 
methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat such disparities. 
"(e) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the Center 
shall act as the primary Federal official with responsibility for 
coordinating all minority health disparities research and other 
health disparities research conducted or supported by the National 
Institutes of Health, and— 
"(1) shall represent the health disparities research program 
of the National Institutes of Health, including the minority 
health disparities research program, at all relevant Executive 
branch task forces, committees and planning activities; and 
"(2) shall maintain communications with all relevant Public 
Health Service agencies, including the Indian Health Service, 
and various other departments of the Federal Government to 
ensure the timely transmission of information concerning 
advances in minority health disparities research and other 
health disparities research between these various agencies for 
dissemination to affected communities and health care pro-
viders. 
"(f) COLLABORATIVE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND BUDGET.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this section 
and other applicable law, the Director of NIH, the Director 
of the Center, and the directors of the other agencies of the 
National Institutes of Health in collaboration (and in consulta-
tion with the advisory council for the Center) shall— 
Deadline. 
"(A) establish a comprehensive plan and budget for 
the conduct and support of all minority health disparities 
research and other health disparities research activities 
of the agencies of the National Institutes of Health (which 
plan and budget shall be first established under this sub-
section not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this subpart); 
"(B) ensure that the plan and budget establish prior-
ities among the health disparities research activities that 
such agencies are authorized to carry out; 
"(C) ensure that the plan and budget establish objec-
tives regarding such activities, describes the means for 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2499 
achieving the objectives, and designates the date by which 
the objectives are expected to be achieved; 
"(D) ensure that, with respect to amounts appropriated 
for activities of the Center, the plan and budget give pri-
ority in the expenditure of funds to conducting and sup-
porting minority health disparities research; 
"(E) ensure that all amounts appropriated for such 
activities are expended in accordamce with the plan and 
budget; 
"(F) review the plan and budget not less than annually, 
and revise the plan and budget as appropriate; 
"(G) ensure that the plan and budget serve as a broad, 
binding statement of policies regarding minority health 
disparities research and other health disparities research 
activities of the agencies, but do not remove the responsi-
bility of the heads of the agencies for the approval of 
specific programs or projects, or for other details of the 
daily administration of such activities, in accordance with 
the plan and budget; and 
"(H) promote coordination and collaboration among the 
agencies conducting or supporting minority health or other 
health disparities research. 
"(2) 
CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF PLAN AND BUDGET.—^With 
respect to health disparities research activities of the agencies 
of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the Center 
shall ensure that the plan and budget under paragraph (1) 
provide for— 
"(A) basic research and applied research, including 
research and development with respect to products; 
"(B) research that is conducted by the agencies; 
"(C) research that is supported by the agencies; 
"(D) proposals developed pursuant to solicitations by 
the agencies and for proposals developed independently 
of such solicitations; and 
"(E) behavioral research and social sciences research, 
which may include cultural and linguistic research in each 
of the agencies. 
"(3) MINORITY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH.—The plan 
and budget under paragraph (1) shall include a separate state-
ment of the plan and budget for minority health disparities 
research. 
"(g) 
PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL RESEARCH.—^The Director of 
the Center shall work with the Director of NIH and the directors 
of the agencies of the National Institutes of Health to carry out 
the provisions of section 492B that relate to minority groups. 
"(h) RESEARCH ENDOWMENTS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Center may carry 
out a program to facilitate minority health disparities research 
and other health disparities research by providing for research 
endowments at centers of excellence under section 736. 
"(2) ELIGIBILITY.—^The Director of the Center may provide 
for a research endowment under paragraph (1) only if the 
institution involved meets the following conditions: 
"(A) The institution does not have an endowment that 
is worth in excess of an amount equal to 50 percent of 
the national average of endowment funds at institutions 
114 STAT. 2500 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
that conduct similar biomedical research or training of 
health professionals. 
"(B) The application of the institution under paragraph 
(1) regarding a research endowment has been recommended 
pursuant to technical and scientific peer review and has 
been approved by the advisory council under subsection 
(i). 
"(i) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Director of the Center— 
"(1) shall assist the Director of the National Center for 
Research Resources in carrying out section 481(c)(3) and in 
committing resources for construction 
at Institutions of 
Emerging Excellence; 
"(2) shall establish projects to promote cooperation among 
Federal agencies, State, local, tribal, and regional public health 
agencies, and private entities in health disparities research; 
and 
"(3) may utilize information from previous health initiatives 
concerning minorities and other health disparity populations, 
"(j) ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall, in accordance with 
section 406, establish an advisory council to advise, assist, 
consult with, and make recommendations to the Director of 
the Center on matters relating to the activities described in 
subsection (a), and with respect to such activities to carry 
out any other functions described in section 406 for advisory 
councils under such section. Functions under the preceding 
sentence shall include making recommendations on budgetary 
allocations made in the plan under subsection (f), and shall 
include reviewing reports under subsection (k) before the 
reports are submitted under such subsection. 
"(2) MEMBERSHIP.—With respect to the membership of the 
advisory council under paragraph (1), a majority of the members 
shall be individuals with demonstrated expertise regarding 
minority health disparity and other health disparity issues; 
representatives of communities impacted by minority and other 
health disparities shall be included; and a diversity of health 
professionals shall be represented. The membership shall in 
addition include a representative of the Office of Behavioral 
and Social Sciences Research under section 404A. 
"(k) ANNUAL REPORT.—^The Director of the Center shall prepare 
an annual report on the activities carried out or to be carried 
out by the Center, and shall submit each such report to the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, 
the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, the 
Secretary, and the Director of NIH. With respect to the fiscal 
year involved, the report shall— 
"(1) describe and evaluate the progress made in health 
disparities research conducted or supported by the national 
research institutes; 
"(2) summarize and analyze expenditures made for activi-
ties with respect to health disparities research conducted or 
supported by the National Institutes of Health; 
"(3) include a separate statement applying the require-
ments of paragraphs (1) and (2) specifically to minority health 
disparities research; and 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2501 
"(4) contain such recommendations as the Director con-
siders appropriate. 
"(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of 
carrying out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated 
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2005. Such 
authorization of appropriations is in addition to other authorizations 
of appropriations that are available for the conduct and support 
of minority health disparities research or other health disparities 
research by the agencies of the National Institutes of Health.", 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Part A of title IV of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 401(b)(2)— 
42 USC 281. 
(A) in subparagraph (F), by moving the subparagraph 
two ems to the left; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following subparagraph: 
"(G) The National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities."; and 
(2) by striking section 404. 
SEC. 102. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH EDUCATION AND 
42 USC 283b. 
TRAINING. 
Subpart 6 of part E of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act, as added by section 101(a) of this Act, is amended by adding 
at the end the following section: 
"SEC. 485F. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH EDUCATION 
42 USC 287c-32. 
AND TRAINING. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Director of the Center shall make Grants. 
awards of grants or contracts to designated biomedical and behav^ Contracts, 
ioral research institutions under paragraph (1) of subsection (c), 
or to consortia under paragraph (2) of such subsection, for the 
purpose of assisting the institutions in supporting programs of 
excellence in biomedical and behavioral research training for 
individuals who are members of minority health disparity popu-
lations or other health disparity populations. 
"(b) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.—^An award may be made under 
subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that the grant 
will be expended— 
"(1) to train members of minority health disparity popu-
lations or other health disparity populations as professionals 
in the area of biomedical or behavioral research or both; or 
"(2) to expand, remodel, renovate, or alter existing research 
facilities or construct new research facilities for the purpose 
of conducting minority health disparities research and other 
health disparities research. 
"(c) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, a designated 
biomedical and behavioral research institution is a biomedical 
and behavioral research institution that— 
"(A) has a significant number of members of minority 
health disparity populations or other health disparity popu-
lations enrolled as students in the institution (including 
individuals accepted for enrollment in the institution); 
"(B) has been effective in assisting such students of 
the institution to complete the program of education or 
training and receive the degree involved; 
114 STAT. 2502 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
"(C) has made significant efforts to recruit minority 
students to enroll in and graduate from the institution, 
which may include providing means-tested scholarships 
and other financial assistance as appropriate; and 
"(D) has made significant 
recruitment efforts to 
increase the number of minority or other members of health 
disparity populations serving in faculty or administrative 
positions at the institution. 
"(2) CONSORTIUM.—^Any designated biomedical and behav-
ioral research institution involved may, with other biomedical 
and behavioral institutions (designated or otherwise), including 
tribal health programs, form a consortium to receive an award 
under subsection (a). 
"(3) APPLICATION OF CRITERIA TO OTHER PROGRAMS.—In 
the case of any criteria established by the Director of the 
Center for purposes of determining whether institutions meet 
the conditions described in paragraph (1), this section may 
not, with respect to minority health disparity populations or 
other health disparity populations, be construed to authorize, 
require, or prohibit the use of such criteria in any program 
other than the program established in this section. 
"(d) DURATION OF GRANT.—The period during which payments 
are made imder a grant under subsection (a) may not exceed 
5 years. Such pa3mients shall be subject to annual approval by 
the Director of the Center and to the availability of appropriations 
for the fiscal year involved to maike the pa3nnents. 
"(e) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^With respect to activities for which an 
award imder subsection (a) is authorized to be expended, the 
Director of the Center may not make such an award to a 
designated research institution or consortium for any fiscal 
year unless the institution, or institutions in the consortium, 
as the case may be, agree to maintain expenditures of non-
Federal amoiuits for such activities at a level that is not less 
than the level of such expenditures maintained by the institu-
tions involved for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year 
for which such institutions receive such an award. 
"(2) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.—^With respect to any Federal 
amounts received by a designated research institution or consor-
tium and available for carrjdng out activities for which an 
award under subsection (a) is authorized to be expended, the 
Director of the Center may make such an award only if the 
institutions involved agree that the institutions will, before 
expending the award, expend the Federal amounts obtained 
from sources other than the award. 
"(f) CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.—^The Director of the Center may 
authorize a designated biomedical and behavioral research institu-
tion to expend a portion of an award under subsection (a) for 
research endowments. 
"(g) DEFINITIONS.—^For purposes of this section: 
"(1) The term 'designated biomedical and behavioral 
research institution' has the meaning indicated for such term 
in subsection (cXl). Such term includes any health professions 
school receiving an award of a grant or contract under section 
736. 
"(2) The term 'program of excellence' means any program 
carried out by a designated biomedical and behavioral research 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2503 
institution with an award under subsection (a), if the program 
is for purposes for which the institution involved is authorized 
in subsection (b) to expend the grant. 
"(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of 
making grants under subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years 2001 through 2005.". 
SEC. 103. EXTRAMURAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR MINORITY 
HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH. 
Subpart 6 of part E of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act, as amended by section 102 of this Act, is amended by adding 
at the end the following section: 
"SEC. 485G. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR MINORITY HEALTH 42 USC 287c-33. 
DISPARITIES RESEARCH. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Director of the Center shall establish Contracts, 
a program of entering into contracts with qualified health profes-
sionals under which such health professionals agree to engage 
in minority health disparities research or other health disparities 
research in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to 
repay, for each year of engaging in such research, not more than 
$35,000 of the principal and interest of the educational loans of 
such health professionals. 
"(b) SERVICE PROVISIONS.—^The provisions of sections 338B, 
338C, and 338E shall, except as inconsistent with subsection (a), 
apply to the program established in such subsection to the same 
extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the 
National Health Service Corps Loan Repajrment Program estab-
lished in subpart III of part D of title III. 
"(c) 
REQUIREMENT 
REGARDING 
HEALTH 
DISPARITY 
POPU-
LATIONS.—^The Director of the Center shall ensure that not fewer 
than 50 percent of the contracts entered into under subsection 
(a) are for appropriately qualified health professionals who are 
members of a health disparity population. 
"(d) PRIORITY.—^With respect to minority health disparities 
research and other health disparities research under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall ensure that priority is given to conducting 
projects of biomedical research. 
"(e) FUNDING.— 
"(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRL\TIONS.—^For the purpose 
of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years 2001 through 2005. 
"(2) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Amoimts available 
for carrying out this section shall remain available until the 
expiration of the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal 
year for which the amoimts were made available.". 
SEC. 104. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING THE CENTER. 
Subpart 6 of part E of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act, as amended by section 103 of this Act, is amended by adding 
at the end the following section: 
"SEC. 485H. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING THE CENTER. 
"(a) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR CENTER.—The Secretary, 
acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, 
shall provide administrative support and support services to the 
42 USC 287C-34. 
114 STAT. 2504 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
42 u s e 287C-31 
note. 
Deadline. 
Director of the Center and shall ensure that such support takes 
maximum advantage of existing administrative structures at the 
agencies of the National Institutes of Health. 
"(b) EVALUATION AND REPORT.— 
"(1) EVALUATION.—^Not later than 5 years after the date 
of the enactment of this subpart, the Secretary shall conduct 
an evaluation to— 
"(A) determine the effect of this subpart on the plan-
ning and coordination of health disparities research pro-
grams at the agencies of the National Institutes of Health; 
"(B) evaluate the extent to which this subpart has 
eliminated the duplication of administrative resources 
among such Institutes, centers and divisions; and 
"(C) provide, to the extent determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate, recommendations concerning future 
legislative modifications with respect to this subpart, for 
both minority health disparities research and other health 
disparities research. 
"(2) MINORITY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH.—^The evalua-
tion under paragraph (1) shall include a separate statement 
that applies subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such paragraph to 
minority health disparities research. 
"(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the evaluation is commenced under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report 
concerning the results of such evaluation.". 
SEC. 105. REPORT REGARDDVG RESOURCES OF NATIONAL INSTI-
TUTES OF HEALTH DEDICATED TO MINORITY AND OTHER 
HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH. 
Not later than December 1, 2003, the Director of the National 
Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (established by 
the amendment made by section 101(a)), after consultation with 
the advisory council for such Center, shall submit to the Congress, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Director 
of the National Institutes of Health a report that provides the 
following: 
(1) Recommendations for the methodology that should be 
used to determine the extent of the resources of the National 
Institutes of Health that are dedicated to minority health 
disparities research and other health disparities research, 
including determining the amount of funds that are used to 
conduct and support such research. With respect to such meth-
odology, the report shall address any discrepancies between 
the methodology used by such Institutes as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act and the methodology used by the 
Institute of Medicine as of such date. 
(2) A determination of whether and to what extent, relative 
to fiscal year 1999, there has been an increase in the level 
of resources of the National Institutes of Health that are dedi-
cated to minority health disparities research, including the 
amount of funds used to conduct and support such research. 
The report shall include provisions describing whether and 
to what extent there have been increases in the number and 
amount of awards to minority serving institutions. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2505 
TITLE 
II—HEALTH DISPARITIES 
RE-
SEARCH BY AGENCY FOR HEALTH-
CARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY 
SEC. 
201. 
HEALTH 
DISPARITIES 
RESEARCH 
BY 
AGENCY 
FOR 
HEALTH-
CARE 
RESEARCH 
AND 
QUALITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part A of title IX of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 299 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 902, by striking subsection (g); and 
42 USC 299a. 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
•*SEC. 903. RESEARCH ON HEALTH DISPARITIES. 
42USC299a-l. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Director shall— 
"(1) conduct and support research to identify populations 
for which there is a significant disparity in the quality, out-
comes, cost, or use of health care services or access to and 
satisfaction with such services, as compared to the general 
population; 
"(2) conduct and support research on the causes of and 
barriers to reducing the health disparities identified in para-
graph (1), taking into account such factors as socioeconomic 
status, attitudes toward health, the language spoken, the extent 
of formal education, the area or commimity in which the popu-
lation resides, and other factors the Director determines to 
be appropriate; 
"(3) conduct and support research and support demonstra-
tion projects to identify, test, and evaluate strategies for 
reducing or eliminating health disparities, including develop-
ment or identification of effective service delivery models, and 
disseminate effective strategies and models; 
"(4) develop measures and tools for the gissessment gmd 
improvement of the outcomes, quality, and appropriateness of 
health care services provided to health disparity populations; 
"(5) in carrying out section 902(c), provide support to 
increase the number of researchers who are members of health 
disparity populations, and the health services research capacity 
of institutions that train such researchers; and 
"(6) beginning with fiscal year 2003, annually submit to Reports, 
the Congress a report regarding prevailing disparities in health 
care delivery as it relates to racial factors and socioeconomic 
factors in priority populations. 
"(b) RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—In canying out subsection (a), the 
Director shall conduct and support research and support dem-
onstrations to— 
"(A) identify 
the clinical, cultural, socioeconomic, 
geographic, and organizational factors that contribute to 
health disparities, including minority health disparity 
populations, which research shall include 
behavioral 
research, such as examination of patterns of clinical 
decisionmaking, and research on access, outreach, and the 
availability of related support services (such as cultural 
and linguistic services); 
"(B) identify and evaluate clinical and organizational 
strategies to improve the quality, outcomes, and access 
114 STAT. 2506 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
; 
to care for health disparity populations, including minority 
health disparity populations; 
J 
"(C) test such strategies and widely disseminate those 
strategies for which there is scientific evidence of effective-
ness; and 
"(D) determine the most effective approaches for 
disseminating research findings to health disparity popu-
lations, including minority populations. 
"(2) USE OF CERTAIN STRATEGIES.—In carrying out this 
section, the Director shall implement research strategies and 
mechanisms that will enhance the involvement of individuals 
who are members of minority health disparity populations or 
other health disparity populations, health services researchers 
who are such individuals, institutions that train such individ-
uals as researchers, members of minority health disparity popu-
lations or other health disparity populations for whom the 
Agency is attempting to improve the quality and outcomes 
of care, and representatives of appropriate tribal or other 
community-based organizations with respect to health disparity 
populations. Such research strategies and mechanisms may 
include the use of— 
"(A) centers of excellence that can demonstrate, either 
individually or through consortia, a combination of multi-
disciplinary expertise in outcomes or quality improvement 
research, linkages to relevant sites of care, and a dem-
onstrated capacity to involve members and communities 
of health disparity populations, including minority health 
disparity populations, in the planning, conduct, dissemina-
tion, and translation of research; 
"(B) provider-based 
research 
networks, 
including 
health plans, facilities, or delivery system sites of care 
(especially primary care), that make extensive use of health 
care providers who are members of health disparity popu-
lations or who serve patients in such populations and have 
the capacity to evaluate and promote quality improvement; 
"(C) service delivery models (such as health centers 
under section 330 and the Indian Health Service) to reduce 
health disparities; and 
"(D) innovative mechanisms or strategies that will 
facilitate the translation of past research investments into 
clinical practices that can reasonably be expected to benefit 
these populations. 
"(c) QUALITY MEASUREMENT DEVELOPMENT.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^To ensure that health disparity popu-
lations, including minority health disparity populations, benefit 
from the progress made in the ability of individuals to measure 
the quality of health care delivery, the Director shall support 
the development of quality of health care measures that assess 
the experience of such populations with health care systems, 
such as measures that assess the access of such populations 
to health care, the cultural competence of the care provided, 
the quality of the care provided, the outcomes of care, or other 
aspects of health care practice that the Director determines 
to be important. 
"(2) 
EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN PRACTICES.—^The Director 
shall examine the practices of providers that have a record 
of reducing health disparities or have experience in providing 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2507 
culturally competent health services to minority health dis-
parity populations or other health disparity populations. In 
examining such practices of providers funded under the authori-
ties of this Act, the Director shall consult with the heads 
of the relevant agencies of the Public Health Service. 
"(3) REPORT.—^Not later than 36 months after the date Deadline, 
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through 
the Director, shall prepare and submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report describing the state-of-the-
art of quality measurement for minority and other health dis-
parity populations that will identify critical unmet needs, the 
current activities of the Department to address those needs, 
and a description of related activities in the private sector. 
"(d) DEFINITION.—^For purposes of this section: 
"(1) The term 'health disparity population' has the meaning 
given such term in section 485E, except that in addition to 
the meaning so given, the Director may determine that such 
term includes populations for which there is a significant dis-
parity in the quality, outcomes, cost, or use of health care 
services or access to or satisfaction with such services as com-
pared to the general population. 
"(2) The term 'minority', with respect to populations, refers 
to racial and ethnic minority groups as defined in section 1707.". 
(b) FuNDiNG.^^ection 927 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 299c-6) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH.—For the purpose of car-
rying out the activities under section 903, there are authorized 
to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 
2005.". 
TITLE III—DATA COLLECTION 
RELATING TO RACE OR ETHNICITY 
SEC. 301. STUDY AND REPORT BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
42 USC 3501 
(a) STUDY.—The National Academy of Sciences shall conduct 
a comprehensive study of the Department of Health and Human 
Services' data collection systems and practices, and any data collec-
tion or reporting systems required under any of the programs 
or activities of the Department, relating to the collection of data 
on race or ethnicity, including other Federal data collection systems 
(such as the Social Security Administration) with which the Depart-
ment interacts to collect relevant data on race and ethnicity. 
(b) REPORT.—^Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment Deadline, 
of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall prepare and 
submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
of the Senate and the Committee on Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, a report that— 
(1) identifies the data needed to support efforts to evaluate 
the effects of socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity on access 
to health care and other services and on disparity in health 
and other social outcomes and the data needed to enforce 
existing protections for equal access to health care; 
(2) examines the effectiveness of the systems and practices 
of the Department of Health and Human Services described 
in subsection (a), including pilot and demonstration projects 
114 STAT. 2508 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
of the Department, and the effectiveness of selected systems 
and practices of other Federal, State, and tribal agencies and 
the private sector, in collecting and analyzing such data; 
(3) contains recommendations for ensuring that the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, in administering its entire 
array of programs and activities, collects, or causes to be col-
lected, reliable and complete information relating to race and 
ethnicity; and 
(4) includes projections about the costs associated with 
the implementation of the recommendations described in para-
graph (3), and the possible effects of the costs on program 
operations. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of 
carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001. 
TITLE IV—HEALTH PROFESSIONS 
EDUCATION 
SEC. 401. HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION IN HEALTH DISPARITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of title VII of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 740 the following: 
42 u s e 293e. 
"SEC. 741. GRANTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION. 
"(a) GRANTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION IN HEALTH 
DISPARITIES AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration, may make awards of grants, contracts, or cooperative 
agreements to public and nonprofit private entities (including 
tribal entities) for the purpose of carrying out research and 
demonstration projects (including research and demonstration 
projects for continuing health professions education) for training 
and education of health professionals for the reduction of 
disparities in health care outcomes and the provision of cul-
turally competent health care. 
"(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—^Unless specifically required other-
wise in this title, the Secretary shall accept applications for 
grants or contracts under this section from health professions 
schools, academic health centers, State or local governments, 
or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities (or 
consortia of entities, including entities promoting multidisci-
plinary approaches) for funding and participation in health 
professions training activities. The Secretary may accept 
applications from for-profit private entities as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
"(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a), $3,500,000 for fiscal 
year 2001, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $7,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2003, and $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2004.". 
(b) NURSING EDUCATION.—Part A of title VIII of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.) is amended— 
42 use 296f. 
(1) by redesignating section 807 as section 808; and 
42 use 296e-l. 
(2) by inserting after section 806 the following: 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT. 2509 
"SEC. 
807. 
GRANTS 
FOR 
HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS 
EDUCATION. 
"(a) GRANTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION IN HEALTH 
DISPARITIES AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY.—^The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, may make awards of grants, contracts, or coopera-
tive agreements to eligible entities for the purpose of carrying 
out research and demonstration projects (including research and 
demonstration projects for continuing health professions education) 
for training and education for the reduction of disparities in health 
care outcomes and the provision of culturally competent health 
care. Grants under this section shall be the same as provided 
in section 741.". 
"(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—^There are 
to 
be 
appropriated to carry out subsection (a) such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2004.". 
SEC. 402. NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDU-
CATION AND HEALTH DISPARITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(in this section referred to as the "Secretary"), acting through the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
shall convene a national conference on health professions education 
as a method for reducing disparities in health outcomes. 
(b) PARTICIPANTS.—^The Secretary shall include in the national 
conference convened under subsection (a) advocacy groups and edu-
cational entities as described in section 741 of the Public Health 
Service Act (as added by section 401), tribal health programs, 
he£Jth centers under section 330 of such Act, and other interested 
parties. 
(c) ISSUES.—The national conference convened under subsection 
(a) shall include, but is not limited to, issues that address the 
role and impact of health professions education on the reduction 
of disparities in health outcomes, including the role of education 
on cultural competency. The conference shall focus on methods 
to achieve reductions in disparities in health outcomes through 
health professions education (including continuing education pro-
grams) and strategies for outcomes measurement to assess the 
effectiveness of education in reducing disparities. 
(d) PUBLICATION OF FINDINGS.—Not later than 6 months after 
the national conference under subsection (a) has convened, the 
Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a summary of the 
proceedings and findings of the conference. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—^There is authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 403. ADVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS 
EDUCATION IN HEALTH DISPARITIES AND CULTURAL 
COMPETENCY. 
Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-
6) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
paragraph: 
"(10) Advise in matters related to the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of health professions education 
in decreasing disparities in health care outcomes, including 
42 use 293e 
note. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
114 STAT. 2510 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
cultural competency as a method of eliminating health dispari-
ties."; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking "paragraphs (1) through 
(9)" and inserting "paragraphs (1) through (10)"; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by amending paragraph (1) to read 
as follows: 
"(1) RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LANGUAGE.— 
"(A) PROFICIENCY IN SPEAKING ENGLISH.—^The Deputy 
Assistant Secretary shall consult with the Director of the 
Office of International and Refugee Health, the Director 
of the Office of Civil Rights, and the Directors of other 
appropriate departmental entities regarding recommenda-
tions for canying out activities under subsection (b)(9). 
"(B) 
HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS 
EDUCATION REGARDING 
HEALTH DISPARITIES.—^The Deputy Assistant 
Secretary 
shall carry out the duties imder subsection (b)(10) in 
collaboration with appropriate personnel of the Department 
of Health and Human Services, other Federal agencies, 
and other offices, centers, and institutions, as appropriate, 
that have responsibilities imder the Minority Health and 
Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000.". 
TITLE V—PUBLIC AWARENESS AND DIS-
SEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON 
HEALTH DISPARITIES 
42USC287C-31 
SEC. 501. PUBUC AWARENESS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION. 
^° ' 
(a) PUBLIC AWARENESS ON HEALTH DISPARITIES.—^The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the 
"Secretary") shall conduct a national campaign to inform the public 
and health care professionals about health disparities in minority 
and other underserved populations by disseminating information 
and materials available on specific diseases affecting these popu-
lations and programs and activities to address these disparities. 
The campaign shall— 
(1) have a specific focus on minority and other underserved 
communities with health disparities; and 
(2) include an evaluation component to assess the impact 
of the national campaign in raising awareness of health dispari-
ties and information on available resources. 
(b) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON HEALTH DISPARITIES.— 
The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the dissemi-
nation of information and findings with respect to health disparities 
under titles I, II, III, and IV of this Act. The plan shall— 
(1) include the participation of all agencies of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services that are responsible for 
serving populations included in the health disparities research; 
and 
(2) have agency-specific strategies for disseminating rel-
evant findings and information on health disparities and 
improving health care services to affected communities. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-525—NOV. 22, 2000 
114 STAT, 2511 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 601. DEPARTMENTAL 
DEFINITION 
REGARDING 
MINORITY 
INDIVIDUALS. 
Section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300u-6) is amended— 
(1) by striking "Asian Americans and" and inserting "Asian 
Americans;"; and 
(2) by inserting "Native Hawaiians and other" before 
"Pacific Islanders;". 
SEC, 602. CONFORMING PROVISION REGARDING DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act, the term "racial and ethnic minority 
group" has the meaning given such term in section 1707 of the 
Public Health Service Act. 
SEC. 603. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
42 USC 281 note. 
This Act and the amendments made by this Act take effect 
October 1, 2000, or upon the date of the enactment of this Act, 
whichever occurs later. 
Approved November 22, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1880 (H.R. 3250): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-986 accompanying H.R. 3250 (Comm. on Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Oct. 26, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 31, considered and passed House. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 36 (2000): 
Nov. 22, Presidential statement. 
79-194 O - 00 - 15 : QL 3 Part 4