Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§254c–20 Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part D — Primary Health Care › subpart i — health centers › § 254c–20

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give grants to eligible health-care organizations so they can create, test, and grow video-based learning programs that help health workers in rural, frontier, shortage, and medically underserved areas and for Native American communities. These programs connect specialists with many other providers through live video to teach by discussing real cases, share best practices, and measure results. The grants aim to keep providers working in these areas and to expand access to care for things like chronic and infectious diseases, mental health, substance use, maternal and child care, pain and palliative care, and other specialties. Eligible entity — a group that provides or supports health care in the listed areas or to Native Americans (including Tribes and urban Indian organizations). Health professional shortage area, Indian Tribe/Tribal organization, medically underserved population, Native Americans, and urban Indian organization — each have short definitions in other laws. Grants may pay for training, creating teaching programs, collecting and evaluating data on patient and provider outcomes, buying equipment and software, and supporting providers. Grants can last up to 5 years. The Secretary can require grantees to collect outcome data, offer technical help, work with other agencies on broadband, and set up a research plan. A report must be sent to Congress and posted online not later than 4 years after December 27, 2020. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2022 through 2026.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §254c–20

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Eligible entity

(2)Health professional shortage area

The term “health professional shortage area” means a health professional shortage area designated under section 254e of this title.

(3)Indian Tribe

The terms “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal organization” have the meanings given the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” in section 5304 of title 25.

(4)Medically underserved population

The term “medically underserved population” has the meaning given the term in section 254b(b)(3) of this title.

(5)Native Americans

The term “Native Americans” has the meaning given the term in section 293 of this title and includes Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.

(6)Technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model

The term “technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model” means a distance health education model that connects health care professionals, and particularly specialists, with multiple other health care professionals through simultaneous interactive videoconferencing for the purpose of facilitating case-based learning, disseminating best practices, and evaluating outcomes.

(7)Urban Indian organization

The term “urban Indian organization” has the meaning given the term in section 1603 of title 25.

(b)Program established

The Secretary shall, as appropriate, award grants to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, to improve retention of health care providers and increase access to health care services, such as those to address chronic diseases and conditions, infectious diseases, mental health, substance use disorders, prenatal and maternal health, pediatric care, pain management, palliative care, and other specialty care in rural areas, frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically underserved areas and for medically underserved populations or Native Americans.

(c)Use of funds

(1)In general

Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall be used for— (A)

(B)information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models on patient outcomes and health care providers, and to identify best practices for the expansion and use of such models; or

(C)other activities consistent with achieving the objectives of the grants awarded under this section, as determined by the Secretary.

(2)Other uses

In addition to any of the uses under paragraph (1), grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used for— (A)

(B)support for health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through such models.

(d)Length of grants

Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall be for a period of up to 5 years.

(e)Grant requirements

The Secretary may require entities awarded a grant under this section to collect information on the effect of the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, such as on health outcomes, access to health care services, quality of care, and provider retention in areas and populations described in subsection (b). The Secretary may award a grant or contract to assist in the coordination of such models, including to assess outcomes associated with the use of such models in grants awarded under subsection (b), including for the purpose described in subsection (c)(1)(B).

(f)Application

An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models on patient outcomes and health care providers.

(g)Access to broadband (h) Technical assistance

In administering grants under this section, the Secretary may coordinate with other agencies to ensure that funding opportunities are available to support access to reliable, high-speed internet for grantees.

(i)Research and evaluation

The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders with appropriate expertise in such models, shall develop a strategic plan to research and evaluate the evidence for such models. The Secretary shall use such plan to inform the activities carried out under this section.

(j)Report by Secretary

Not later than 4 years after December 27, 2020, the Secretary 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, and post on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report including, at minimum—

(1)a description of any new and continuing grants awarded to entities under subsection (b) and the specific purpose and amounts of such grants;

(2)an overview of—

(A)the evaluations conducted under subsections (b);

(B)technical assistance provided under subsection (h); and

(C)activities conducted by entities awarded grants under subsection (b); and

(3)a description of any significant findings or developments related to patient outcomes or health care providers and best practices for eligible entities expanding, using, or evaluating technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, including through the activities described in subsection (h).

(k)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 254c–20

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110