COMMISSION ON ALLIED HEALTH.

SEC. 302. COMMISSION ON ALLIED HEALTH. (a) Establishment.—There is established an advisory council to be known as the National Commission on Allied Health (in this section referred to as the “Commission”), which shall meet at least twice annually until such time as the final report is submit-ted under subsection (e). (b) Duties.—The Commission shall— (1) make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”), the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, with respect to— (A) the supply and distribution of allied health personnel throughout the United States; (B) current and future shortages or excesses of allied health personnel, particularly in medically underserved and rural communities; (C) priority research needs within the allied health professions; (D) appropriate Federal policies relating to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (C), including policies concerning changes in the financing of undergraduate and graduate allied health programs, changes in the types of allied health education, and the appropriate Federal role in the development of a research base in the allied health professions; (E) appropriate efforts to be carried out by health care facilities, schools and programs of allied health, and professional associations with respect to the matter referred to in subparagraph (A), including efforts for changes in undergraduate and graduate allied health education programs, and private support for research initiatives; (F) deficiencies and needs for improvements in existing data bases concerning the supply and distribution of training programs for allied health in the United States and steps that should be taken to eliminate such deficiencies; and (G) problems, and recommendations for the resolution of such problems, relating to the roles and functions of professionals within the allied health fields and other fields such as medicine and dentistry; and (2) encourage entities providing allied health education to conduct activities to voluntarily achieve the recommendations of the Commission. (c) Composition.—The Commission shall be composed of— 106 STAT. 2083 (1) the Assistant Secretary for Health; (2) the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration; (3) the Assistant Secretary for Defense for Health Affairs; (4) the Chief Medical Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs; (5) the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor; (6) a representative of the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department of Education; (7) a representative of the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration to be appointed by the Secretary; (8) five individuals appointed by the Secretary to represent allied health professionals, of which— (A) two such individuals shall be representatives of allied health professionals who provide occupational, speech, respiratory or physical therapy services; (B) two such individuals shall be health professionals who provide services in underserved areas or to under-served populations; and (C) one such individual shall be a health professional who provides services to the elderly; (9) five individuals appointed by the Secretary, including representatives of schools and programs of allied health, health care facility employers of allied health personnel, health insurers, and professional organizations representing the allied health professions; (10) a professional knowledgeable about health occupations and professions and data policy to be appointed by the Secretary; and (11) a representative of the general public to be appointed by the Secretary. (d) Date Certain for Appointments.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Health Professions Education Extension Amendments of 1992, the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Commission in accordance with subsection (c). (e) Reports.—Not later than October 1, 1993, the Commission shall prepare and submit to the individual and entities described in subsection (b)(1) a progress report concerning the activities of the Commission. Not later than April 1, 1994, the Commission shall prepare and submit to such individuals and entities a final report. (f) Resources for Council.—The Secretary shall ensure that necessary resources are made available to implement the provisions of this section. (g) Termination.—The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the submission of the final report required under subsection (e).