SEC. 711. [42 U.S.C. 912] (a) There shall
be established in the Department of Health and Human Services (in
this section referred to as the "Department") an Office
of Rural Health Policy (in this section referred to as the "Office").
The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall advise the Secretary
on the effects of current policies and proposed statutory, regulatory,
administrative, and budgetary changes in the programs established
under titles XVIII and XIX on the financial viability of small rural
hospitals, the ability of rural areas (and rural hospitals in particular)
to attract and retain physicians and other health professionals,
and access to (and the quality of) health care in rural areas.
(b) In addition to advising the Secretary with
respect to the matters specified in subsection (a), the Director,
through the Office, shall-
(1) oversee compliance with the requirements
of section 1102(b) of this Act and section 4403 of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (as such section pertains to
rural health issues),
(2) establish and maintain a clearinghouse for
collecting and disseminating information on-
(A) rural health care issues, including rural
mental health, rural infant mortality prevention, and rural
occupational safety and preventive health promotion,
(B) research findings relating to rural health
care, and
(C) innovative approaches to the delivery
of health care in rural area, including programs providing community-based
mental health services, pre-natal and infant care services,
and rural occupational safety and preventive health education
and promotion,
(3) coordinate the activities within the Department
that relate to rural health care,
(4) provide information to the Secretary and
others in the Department with respect to the activities, of other
Federal departments and agencies, that relate to rural health
care, including activities relating to rural mental health, rural
infant mortality, and rural occupational safety and preventive
health promotion, and
(5) administer grants, cooperative agreements,
and contracts to provide technical assistance and other activities
as necessary to support activities related to improving health
care in rural areas.
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