Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 5.djvu/569

 PUBLIC LAW 104-299—OCT. 11, 1996 110 STAT. 3643 "(i) a description of the activities which the appHcant intends to carry out using amounts provided under the grant; "(ii) a plan for continuing the project after Federal support is ended; "(iii) a description of the manner in which the activities funded under the grant will meet health care needs of underserved rural populations within the State; and "(iv) a description of how the local community or region to be served by the network or proposed network will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the network. "(2) FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.— An eligible network may include for-profit entities so long as the network grantee is a nonprofit entity. "(3) TELEMEDICINE NETWORKS. — "(A) IN GENERAL. —An entity that is a health care provider and a member of an existing or proposed telemedicine network, or an entity that is a consortium of health care providers that are members of an existing or proposed telemedicine network shall be eligible for a grant under this section. "(B) REQUIREMENT.—A telemedicine network referred to in subparagraph (A) shall, at a minimum, be composed of— "(i) a multispecialty entity that is located in an urban or rural area, which can provide 24-hour a day access to a range of specialty care; and "(ii) at least two rural health care facilities, which may include rural hospitals, rural physician offices, rural health clinics, rural community health clinics, and rural nursing homes. "(d) PREFERENCE. —In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to applicant networks that include— "(1) a majority of the health care providers serving in the area or region to be served by the network; "(2) any federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and local public health departments serving in the area or region; "(3) outpatient mental health providers serving in the area or region; or "(4) appropriate social service providers, such as agencies on aging, school systems, and providers under the women, infants, and children program, to improve access to and coordination of health care services. "(e) USE OF FUNDS. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— Amounts provided under grants awarded under this section shall be used— "(A) for the planning and development of integrated self-sustaining health care networks; and "(B) for the initial provision of services. " (2) EXPENDITURES IN RURAL AREAS.— "(A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 50 percent of the grant award is expended in a rural area or to provide services to residents of rural areas.

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