Sec. 201. Interagency task force on rural health information technology
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Title XXX of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300jj et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The President shall establish an Interagency Task Force on Rural Health Information Technology (referred to in this section as the Task Force ). The President shall appoint members of the Task Force, which shall include— a representative from the Office of Rural Development of the Department of Agriculture; representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, including— a representative from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology established under section 3001(a); a representative from the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration; a representative from the Indian Health Service; a representative from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; a representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and a representative from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; representatives from other Federal agencies, including— a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs; a representative from the Department of Labor; a representative from the Department of Education; a representative from the Federal Communications Commission; a representative from the Department of Transportation; and a representative from the Department of Commerce; and any other representatives from Federal, State, or private sector entities as determined appropriate by the President, including the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the National Rural Health Association, the National Governors Association, and the National Rural Economic Developers Association.
The Secretary shall serve as the chairperson of the Task Force. All initial members of the Task Force shall be appointed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Connecting Rural Americans to Care Act of 2016 . Each member of the Task Force shall be appointed for a term of 4 years with the opportunity for reappointment. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. The Task Force shall carry out each of the following activities:
Measure and evaluate progress in Federal, State, local, and tribal efforts to expand health information technology infrastructure in rural areas. Collaborate with the Broadband Opportunity Council, or any other successor, similar, or relevant Federal interagency entity that addresses delivery of financial and technical assistance to rural health care providers for the implementation of broadband technology and development of health information technology infrastructure. Provide recommendations on best practices to increase internet access in rural areas for the purpose of improving the delivery of health care services.
Align, across Federal agencies and departments, evaluation metrics for measures to expedite the development and implementation of health information technologies in rural areas in accordance with paragraph (2). In carrying out the activity described in paragraph (1)(D), the Task Force shall, to the extent practicable, consider how evaluation metrics for Federal measures described in such paragraph align with the evaluation metrics for State and local measures to reduce administrative burden.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Connecting Rural Americans to Care Act of 2016 , and every 3 years thereafter, the Task Force shall publish a report (to be known as the Health Care Information Technology Infrastructure Status Report ) that— describes the current state of the connectivity gap in the United States, with a special emphasis on rural areas, to inform the use of Federal programs providing support for the implementation of broadband technology and the development and adoption of health information technology infrastructure, particularly in rural areas; and includes recommendations on ways to increase access to health information technology in rural areas, especially areas that are designated as— a health professional shortage area by the Secretary under section 332; and an area without access to advanced telecommunications capability, as identified by the Federal Communications Commission in the county-based appendix to the most recent Broadband Progress Report adopted by the Federal Communications Commission as required under section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ( 47 U.S.C. 1302 ).
The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson, not less than 2 times each year. The Task Force may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out its duties under this section. Upon request of the chairperson of the Task Force, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Task Force.
A member of the Task Force shall be allowed reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the member's home or regular place of business in the performance of services for the Task Force. The chairperson of the Task Force may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Task Force to perform the duties of the Task Force, except that the employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Task Force.
The chairperson of the Task Force may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Task Force without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
The chairperson of the Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. .
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