
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC299b-6]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
 
       SUBCHAPTER VII--AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY
 
                Part B--Health Care Improvement Research
 
Sec. 299b-6. Coordination of Federal Government quality 
        improvement efforts
        

(a) Requirement

                           (1) In general

        To avoid duplication and ensure that Federal resources are used 
    efficiently and effectively, the Secretary, acting through the 
    Director, shall coordinate all research, evaluations, and 
    demonstrations related to health services research, quality 
    measurement and quality improvement activities undertaken and 
    supported by the Federal Government.

                       (2) Specific activities

        The Director, in collaboration with the appropriate Federal 
    officials representing all concerned executive agencies and 
    departments, shall develop and manage a process to--
            (A) improve interagency coordination, priority setting, and 
        the use and sharing of research findings and data pertaining to 
        Federal quality improvement programs, technology assessment, and 
        health services research;
            (B) strengthen the research information infrastructure, 
        including databases, pertaining to Federal health services 
        research and health care quality improvement initiatives;
            (C) set specific goals for participating agencies and 
        departments to further health services research and health care 
        quality improvement; and
            (D) strengthen the management of Federal health care quality 
        improvement programs.

(b) Study by the Institute of Medicine

                           (1) In general

        To provide Congress, the Department of Health and Human 
    Services, and other relevant departments with an independent, 
    external review of their quality oversight, quality improvement and 
    quality research programs, the Secretary shall enter into a contract 
    with the Institute of Medicine--
            (A) to describe and evaluate current quality improvement, 
        quality research and quality monitoring processes through--
                (i) an overview of pertinent health services research 
            activities and quality improvement efforts conducted by all 
            Federal programs, with particular attention paid to those 
            under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act 
            [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq., 1397aa et seq.]; and
                (ii) a summary of the partnerships that the Department 
            of Health and Human Services has pursued with private 
            accreditation, quality measurement and improvement 
            organizations; and

            (B) to identify options and make recommendations to improve 
        the efficiency and effectiveness of quality improvement programs 
        through--
                (i) the improved coordination of activities across the 
            medicare, medicaid and child health insurance programs under 
            titles XVIII, XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act and 
            health services research programs;
                (ii) the strengthening of patient choice and 
            participation by incorporating state-of-the-art quality 
            monitoring tools and making information on quality 
            available; and
                (iii) the enhancement of the most effective programs, 
            consolidation as appropriate, and elimination of duplicative 
            activities within various Federal agencies.

                          (2) Requirements

        (A) In general

            The Secretary shall enter into a contract with the Institute 
        of Medicine for the preparation--
                (i) not later than 12 months after December 6, 1999, of 
            a report providing an overview of the quality improvement 
            programs of the Department of Health and Human Services for 
            the medicare, medicaid, and CHIP programs under titles 
            XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act; and
                (ii) not later than 24 months after December 6, 1999, of 
            a final report containing recommendations.

        (B) Reports

            The Secretary shall submit the reports described in 
        subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Finance and the Committee 
        on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, Sec. 917, as added Pub. L. 106-129, 
Sec. 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1661.)

                       References in Text

    The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Aug. 14, 
1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended. Titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of 
the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (Sec. 1395 et 
seq.), XIX (Sec. 1396 et seq.), and XXI (Sec. 1397aa et seq.) of chapter 
7 of this title, respectively. For complete classification of this Act 
to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

                          Codification

    December 6, 1999, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), was in the 
original ``the date of the enactment of this title'', which was 
translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106-129, which 
amended this subchapter generally, to reflect the probable intent of 
Congress.
