Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 106-129.
Official Summary
Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Public Health Service (PHS) an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to replace the current Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.Establishes within the Agency the Office of Priority Populations through which the Director shall conduct research and demonstration projects respecting: (1) health services and needs of various groups, including minorities, children, the elderly, and the disabled; and (2) rural and inner-city health care delivery.Authorizes the Director to: (1) provide health services training grants, including pre- and post-doctoral fellowships; and (2) provide financial assistance for establishing and operating new and existing multidisciplinary health centers.States that the Agency shall not mandate national standards of clinical practice or quality health care standards.Requires the Director to annually report on health care delivery disparities respecting racial and socioeconomic factors in priority populations.Directs the Agency to identify and disseminate methods or systems used to assess health care research results.Requires the Agency to employ research strategies and mechanisms that will link research directly with clinical practice in geographically diverse locations throughout the United States, including health care improvement research centers and provider-based research networks.Authorizes the Agency to provide specified scientific and technical support for private and public efforts to improve health care quality, including accrediting organizations.Requires the Director to: (1) provide grants to establish one or more centers for education and research on therapeutics; (2) conduct and support research and build private-public partnerships to reduce health care errors; and (3) collect information, develop databases, and annually report respecting health care quality and cost.Requires the Agency to conduct and support research and initiatives respecting health care information systems, including performance data, practitioner training, network development, and use of computer-based health care records. Requires the Director to facilitate public access to information respecting consumer health care satisfaction.Authorizes the Director to periodically convene a Preventive Services Task Force which shall review scientific evidence and make recommendations respecting the effectiveness of clinical preventive services.Establishes within the Agency a Center for Primary Care Research to serve as the principal funding source for primary care research in the Department of Health and Human Services .Requires the Director to promote innovation in evidence-based health care practices and technologies, including specific request-based assessments. Authorizes the Director to make related grants to, and contracts with, eligible entities.Requires the Director to develop and disseminate a report on evidence-based clinical practices for: (1) examination and treatment of victims of sexual assault, including children; and (2) training of health professionals on performing medical evidentiary examinations of victims of child abuse or neglect, sexual assault, elder abuse, or domestic violence.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to coordinate Federal research, evaluations, and demonstrations related to health services research and quality measurement and improvement activities.Directs the Secretary to enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine to evaluate and make recommendations respecting current quality improvement and monitoring processes.Establishes the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality to replace the current Advisory Council for Health Care Policy, Research, and Evaluation.Requires the Director to establish technical and scientific peer review groups to review each application for a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under the provisions of this Act.Requires the Director to establish standard data collection methods, taking into consideration other Federal and provider methodologies. Authorizes the Director to conduct fee-based research for a requesting entity.Provides for information dissemination, with specified protections and related penalties.Sets forth specified administrative provisions.Authorizes FY 2000 through 2005 appropriations, which shall provide for a proportional increase in funding for biomedical research.(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary, acting through appropriate PHS agencies, to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the establishment and operation of regional centers to develop strategies to assist health care service delivery among specific populations, with priority given to infants, young children, and their mothers. Authorizes FY 2000 through 2004 appropriations.(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to make two payments, determined in accordance with a specified formula and guidelines, to each children's hospital for each of FY 2000 and 2001, one for the direct expenses and the other for indirect expenses associated with operating approved graduate medical residency training programs. Authorizes FY 2000 and 2001 appropriations.(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary, acting through the appropriate PHS agencies, to conduct a study of whether and to what extent there is a shortage of licensed pharmacists.(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to report respecting telemedicine services.(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to develop recommendations respecting the placement of automatic external defibrillators (with related training and medical oversight) in Federal buildings as a means to increase cardiac arrest survival rates.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within the Public Health Service, replacing the former Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. The Act tasks the AHRQ with conducting research and demonstration projects focused on health services for priority populations such as minorities, children, the elderly, and the disabled, as well as rural and inner-city healthcare delivery. It authorizes grants for health services training and multidisciplinary health centers, mandates annual reporting on healthcare disparities, and promotes evidence-based clinical practices. The Act also establishes new centers and task forces to improve healthcare quality, reduce errors, and enhance information systems, while explicitly prohibiting the Agency from mandating national clinical practice standards. Additional provisions include funding authorizations, coordination of federal research efforts, and directives related to children's hospitals, pharmacist shortages, telemedicine, and placement of defibrillators in federal buildings.
This law creates a dedicated federal agency to improve healthcare research and quality, focusing on priority populations and evidence-based practices, while supporting training, data collection, and healthcare delivery improvements.
- Establishes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to replace the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
- Requires annual reports on healthcare disparities related to race and socioeconomic status in priority populations.
- Authorizes grants for health services training, multidisciplinary health centers, and centers for education and research on therapeutics.
- Prohibits the Agency from mandating national clinical practice or quality standards.
- Directs research and initiatives on healthcare information systems, error reduction, and preventive services.
['Priority populations including minorities, children, elderly, and disabled individuals', 'Healthcare providers and researchers through grants and training programs', 'Public and nonprofit health centers receiving financial assistance', "Children's hospitals operating graduate medical residency training programs", 'Federal agencies involved in healthcare research and quality improvement']
['Implementation complexity due to coordination across multiple federal agencies and diverse populations', 'Costs associated with establishing new centers, grants, and research initiatives over multiple fiscal years', 'Authority limitations as the Agency is explicitly prohibited from setting national clinical practice standards, which may affect enforcement capabilities', 'Oversight challenges in ensuring accurate and timely reporting on healthcare disparities and quality', 'Potential administrative burden related to standardizing data collection methods and peer review processes']
The bill was introduced and passed during the 106th Congress and signed into law on December 6, 1999. It reflects a legislative effort to enhance federal healthcare research infrastructure and quality improvement without imposing mandatory clinical standards. The Act builds on existing public health service frameworks and replaces a prior agency to better address healthcare disparities and promote evidence-based practices.
High concern review — 3 hidden impact flags detected
GovScope reviewed 3 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Improved data collection and dissemination may enhance transparency and public access to healthcare quality information.', 'Support for training and research centers could strengthen the healthcare workforce and innovation in clinical practices.', 'Coordination of federal research efforts may reduce duplication and improve efficiency in healthcare quality initiatives.', "Focus on priority populations and disparities could influence broader health equity efforts beyond the Agency's direct programs.", 'Development of telemedicine and defibrillator placement recommendations may impact emergency response and healthcare delivery in federal facilities.']
The Act includes provisions for annual reporting, peer review, and standardization of data collection, which are important for transparency and oversight. However, the Agency's lack of authority to mandate clinical standards may limit enforcement capabilities. The multi-year funding authorizations require monitoring to ensure appropriations align with authorized levels. Data dissemination protections and penalties highlight the need for careful management of sensitive health information.
GovScope Intelligence Roadmap
Future bill intelligence will connect sponsors, committee referrals, related votes, campaign finance, disclosures, and stock trades into one legislative intelligence view.