[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8200 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8200
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to direct the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to
award grants to eligible entities to carry out construction or
modernization projects designed to strengthen and increase capacity
within the specialized pediatric health care infrastructure, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2024
Mr. Cardenas (for himself, Mr. Trone, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Barragan, Ms.
Chu, Ms. Lee of California, and Mr. Morelle) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to direct the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to
award grants to eligible entities to carry out construction or
modernization projects designed to strengthen and increase capacity
within the specialized pediatric health care infrastructure, and for
other purposes.
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 ``Pediatric Access to Critical
Healthcare Act''.
SEC. 2. PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE CAPACITY GRANTS.
Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subpart XIII--Pediatric Health Care Capacity
``SEC. 340J. PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE CAPACITY GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants
to eligible entities to carry out construction or modernization
projects designed to strengthen and increase capacity within pediatric
health care infrastructure.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall be a--
``(1) children's hospital;
``(2) a facility that is eligible to receive funds under
Section 340E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256e);
or
``(3) a nonprofit medical facility that predominantly
treats individuals under the age of 21.
``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity selected to receive a grant
under subsection (a) may use funds received through the grant for--
``(1) expanding pediatric critical health care
infrastructure, including the expansion, renovation,
remodeling, and alteration of existing buildings (but not
including the cost of acquisition of land or off-site
improvements);
``(2) maintaining and enhancing pediatric emergency
preparedness;
``(3) increasing the training, development, and retention
of the pediatric health care workforce;
``(4) upgrading digital health infrastructure, including
upgrades related to preventing and addressing cybersecurity
threats;
``(5) building additional patient care capacity to expand
access to care; and
``(6) other activities related to strengthening and
increasing capacity within the pediatric health care
infrastructure, as determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require, including--
``(1) a description of the entity's planned activities
described in subsection (c); and
``(2) such documentation as may be necessary to demonstrate
to the Secretary's satisfaction of the estimated cost of the
project for which the grant is made.
``(e) Considerations.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary, to the extent practicable, may ensure equitable distribution
of awards among the geographical regions of the United States.
``(f) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive a grant
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
entities--
``(1) for whom over 60 percent of the patients they serve
are receiving medical assistance under a State plan (or a
waiver of such plan) under title XIX of the Social Security Act
or child health assistance under a State child health plan (or
a waiver of such plan) under title XXI of such Act; or
``(2) that primarily serve children from diverse and
traditionally underserved populations, including racial and
ethnic minorities.
``(g) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds provided under this
subsection shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and
non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described
in this section.
``(h) Matching Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall provide funds from sources other than funds provided
through such grant in an amount that is at least equal to 50 percent of
the amount of such grant.
``(i) Reporting.--
``(1) Reports from grantees.--Following project completion,
each entity awarded a grant under this section shall submit a
report to the Secretary on the activities conducted under such
grant, and other information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than September 30,
2028, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate a report on the activities conducted
through, and outcomes of such projects, funded through the
grants under subsection (a). Such reports shall include--
``(A) the number of projects supported by the
grants under subsection (a);
``(B) an overview of the impact, if any, of such
projects on pediatric health care infrastructure,
including any impact on access to health care for
pediatric populations; and
``(C) recommendations for improving the grant
program under this section, and any other
considerations as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $600,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2034.''.
<all>