[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6072 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6072
To establish a program to assist States in establishing or enhancing
community integration network infrastructure for health and social
services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 23, 2021
Mr. Kildee (for himself, Mrs. Walorski, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and Mr.
Hudson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Agriculture, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and
Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to assist States in establishing or enhancing
community integration network infrastructure for health and social
services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Leveraging Integrated Networks in
Communities To Address Social Needs Act of 2021'' or the ``LINC To
Address Social Needs Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OR ENHANCEMENT OF STATE
COMMUNITY INTEGRATION NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall award grants on a
competitive basis to States to support such States, through public-
private partnerships, to establish new or enhance existing community
integration network infrastructure through authorized activities under
subsection (b).
(b) Authorized Activities.--A State, acting through the public-
private partnership entered into under subsection (d)(1), shall use a
grant under this section to carry out activities and services to
establish new or enhance existing community integration network
infrastructure, on a statewide basis through direct network operations
or collaborations among multiple associated entities, which may include
such entities that operate regionally. Such activities and services
shall include--
(1) establishing a new or enhancing an existing
interoperable technology network that--
(A) enables the coordination of public and private
providers and payors of services for individuals in the
State, including services such as--
(i) nutritional assistance;
(ii) housing;
(iii) health care, including telehealth
services (including through audio-only
services), preventive health intervention,
chronic disease management, and behavioral
health care;
(iv) transportation;
(v) job training;
(vi) child development or care;
(vii) caregiving and respite care;
(viii) disability assistance;
(ix) independent living services or
independent living core services;
(x) care coordination;
(xi) domestic violence screening; and
(xii) other services, as determined by the
State;
(B) prioritizes--
(i) partnerships for the use of technology
that align with the guidelines established
under subsection (c)(3); and
(ii) connectivity with appropriate existing
technology networks developed by public or
private organizations in the State that comply
with, as applicable, standards adopted by the
Secretary under section 3004 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj-14), for
the purposes described in subparagraph (A), and
(C) ensures that--
(i) reasonable measures are taken to
promote connectivity and interoperable exchange
among associated entities;
(ii) appropriate privacy and security
protections are in place, in accordance with
applicable Federal and State privacy laws; and
(iii) appropriate accessibility measures
are in place, in accordance with applicable
Federal and State law, including the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101
et seq.) and section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794(d));
(2) connecting associated entities for purposes of
communication, service coordination and consumer assistance,
referral and capacity management, outcome tracking,
interoperability, eligibility determination, and related
services;
(3) providing technical assistance and supporting
associated entities in connecting and participating in the
community integration network infrastructure;
(4) planning for and implementing actions designed to
create sustainable funding models to support long-term access
to community integration network infrastructure;
(5) designing and implementing a financial structure to
make the community integration network infrastructure
financially self-sustaining not later than 4 years after
receiving funds under this section; and
(6) evaluating the use of any funds provided under this
section.
(c) Award of Grants.--
(1) In general.--A grant under this Act shall be awarded
under such terms and conditions as the Secretary shall
prescribe, including the guidelines established under paragraph
(3) and, as determined feasible and appropriate by the
Secretary, that the State shall utilize, where available,
health information technology systems and products that meet
standards and implementation specifications adopted under
section 3004 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj-
14).
(2) Minimizing administrative burden.--The Secretary shall
seek to minimize the administrative burden of such terms and
conditions and ensure programmatic flexibility for unique State
needs.
(3) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall--
(A) consult relevant stakeholders, including
community-based organizations, regarding basic
functionalities, technical capacities, and data
standards needed for interoperable community
integration network infrastructure and the distinct
governance and management functionalities of the
associated social care delivery system; and
(B) based on such consultations, establish
guidelines for awarding grants under this section,
including application requirements.
(d) Application.--A State desiring a grant under this section
shall--
(1) enter into a public-private partnership with one or
more--
(A) private, nonprofit, or philanthropic
organizations, including such organizations in rural
areas, centers for independent living, area agencies on
aging, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers; or
(B) Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or urban
Indian organizations within the State; and
(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information
as the Secretary may require, including--
(A) a description of the agency or department in
the State government that will coordinate with and
oversee the partnership established under paragraph
(1);
(B) a plan for the establishment or enhancement of
a community integration network infrastructure
including--
(i) the proposed transparent and
competitive process for selecting any new
operational components of the community
integration network infrastructure;
(ii) the planned governance structure (in
accordance with subsection (f)) within the
community integration network infrastructure;
(iii) proposed associated entities and
services to be included in the community
integration network infrastructure;
(iv) accessing and electronically linking,
as feasible, relevant data to create community
integration network infrastructure, including a
description of intended sources of data; and
(v) the use of standards and implementation
specifications developed by national standards
organizations, as feasible, and coordination
with such organizations overall;
(C) assurances that the funds awarded under this
section will be used solely to carry out authorized
activities as described in subsection (b) and other
related activities;
(D) potential options, including public-private
partnerships in addition to the partnership described
in paragraph (1), for making the community integration
network infrastructure financially self-sustaining not
later than 4 years after receiving funds under this
section; and
(E) a description of the objectives and outcome
goals of developing the community integration network
infrastructure, including--
(i) one or more health outcomes;
(ii) one or more other important social
outcomes;
(iii) improved access to health care or
social services; and
(iv) how progress toward the outcomes
described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) will
be measured through internal performance
metrics.
(e) Separate Tribal Infrastructure.--Nothing in this section shall
preclude Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or urban Indian
organizations from establishing a community integration network
infrastructure that is separate from any other public-private
partnership receiving funding under this section, provided that such
infrastructure is interoperable with the community integration network
infrastructure of each applicable State that receives a grant under
subsection (a).
(f) Planned Governance Structure of Community Integration Network
Infrastructure.--Community integration network infrastructure
established or enhanced using a grant under subsection (a) shall have a
planned governance structure that is based on a shared governance model
providing collaborative representation for different types of
associated entities, including associated entities that provide social
services.
(g) Evaluation.--The Secretary may conduct an evaluation of grants
awarded under this section, including regarding activities and services
to establish new or enhance existing community integration network
infrastructure and the operations of such community integration network
infrastructure.
(h) Federal Matches.--Grant funds made available to States under
subsection (a) shall be deemed a non-Federal source for purposes of any
requirement for matching Federal funds with non-Federal funds,
including the requirement applicable to State expenditures on
technology that are reimbursable under section 1903(a) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)).
(i) Electronic Health Records.--No State receiving a grant under
this section shall be required to incorporate electronic health records
into the State's community integration network infrastructure supported
by such grant.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Total amount.--To carry out this section (other
than subsection (g)), there is authorized to be
appropriated $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal
years 2022 to 2026.
(B) Administration.--Of the amounts appropriated
pursuant to subparagraph (A), up to $10,000,000 may be
used for administrative expenses.
(2) Evaluation.--There is authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out subsection (g) for
fiscal year 2022.
(3) Duration of availability.--Amounts appropriated under
this subsection shall remain available until the date that is 5
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Aging and disability resource center.--The term ``Aging
and Disability Resource Center'' has the meaning given such
term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3002).
(2) Area agency on aging.--The term ``area agency on
aging'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the
Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
(3) Associated entities.--The term ``associated entities''
means any--
(A) community-based organization that maintains
community resource directories, accepts referrals from,
or provides referrals to, health care organizations, or
that provides services such as--
(i) nutritional assistance;
(ii) housing;
(iii) health care, including telehealth
services (including through audio-only
services), preventive health intervention,
chronic disease management, and behavioral
health care;
(iv) transportation;
(v) job training;
(vi) child development or care;
(vii) caregiving and respite care;
(viii) disability assistance;
(ix) independent living services or
independent living core services;
(x) care coordination; and
(xi) domestic violence screening;
(B) public, or nonprofit or for-profit, private
health care provider organization;
(C) public or private funded payor of health care
services, including home- or community-based services;
(D) State, local, territorial, or Tribal health and
social services agency;
(E) State public housing authority or housing
finance agency;
(F) public health information exchange or public
health information network, as defined by the
Secretary; or
(G) other similar entity, as designated by the
State.
(4) Center for independent living.--The term ``center for
independent living'' has the meaning given to such term in
section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a).
(5) Community integration network infrastructure.--The term
``community integration network infrastructure'' means
infrastructure, existing on statewide basis with direct network
operations or through collaborations among multiple associated
entities, used to enable the coordination, alignment, and
connection, of associated entities in a State, including such
entities that operate regionally, for purposes of
communication, service coordination, interoperable information
exchange across health care and community-based organizations,
and referral management of services, with respect to services
such as--
(A) nutritional assistance;
(B) housing;
(C) health care, including telehealth services
(including through audio-only services), preventive
health intervention, chronic disease management, and
behavioral health care;
(D) transportation;
(E) job training;
(F) child development or care;
(G) caregiving and respite care;
(H) disability assistance;
(I) independent living services or independent
living core services;
(J) care coordination; and
(K) other similar services, as designated by the
State.
(6) Indian tribe and tribal organization.--The terms
``Indian Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization'' have the meanings
given to the terms `Indian tribe' and `tribal organization' in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) Independent living services; independent living core
services.--The terms ``independent living services'' and
``independent living core services'' have the meanings given to
such terms in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 705).
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' refers to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, territory, or
the District of Columbia.
(10) Urban indian organization.--The term ``urban Indian
organization'' has the meaning given to the term in section 4
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
SEC. 3. EVALUATION, REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) Evaluation.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct an evaluation that--
(1) measures the overall impact of the community
integration network infrastructure established or enhanced
using funds received under section 2, with respect to--
(A) changes in individual and population health
outcomes;
(B) changes in access to health care or social
services;
(C) the degree of data sharing using the community
integration network infrastructure established or
enhanced using funds received under section 2;
(D) the effectiveness of service coordination;
(E) the cost-effectiveness of the provision of
services;
(F) any results or anticipated results on overall
health and social services spending;
(G) patient and consumer satisfaction with service
coordination process and services received;
(H) the degree of sustainability of the community
integration network infrastructure; and
(I) any other relevant factors; and
(2) describes how the funds received under section 2 were
used.
(b) Report and Recommendations.--Not later than 5 years after the
date the first grant under this Act is awarded, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall--
(1)(A) submit a report on the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a) to Congress; and
(B) make such report publicly available; and
(2) based on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a),
make recommendations to States and Indian Tribes, Tribal
organizations, or urban Indian organizations, on how to improve
and sustain community integration network infrastructure
established or enhanced using funds received under section 2.
<all>