ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN RURAL PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT.

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN RURAL PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT. Section 305 (42 U.S.C. 242c) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (i) as subsections (d) through (j), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: “(c) In carrying out section 304(a), the Secretary, acting through the Center, shall undertake and support research, evaluation, and demonstration projects (that may include and shall be appropriately coordinated with experiments and demonstration activities authorized by the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) and the Social Security Amendments of 1967 (Public Law 90–248; 81 Stat. 821)) respecting the delivery of health care services in rural areas (including frontier areas), which may include projects with respect to— “(1) the future of the rural hospital; “(2) long-term health care for the rural elderly; “(3) hospital care for the rural poor and uninsured; and “(4) alternative health care delivery systems and managed health care in rural areas.”.