Primary Health Care Act

Summary

Primary Health Care Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act: (1) to develop and promote a long-term strategy for addressing primary health care needs; and (2) to alleviate the shortage of health resources in both urban and rural medically underserved areas of the country. Establishes the Commission on National Primary Health Care Needs. Requires the Commission to issue a report to Congress on the national primary health care needs with special attention on the varying needs of both urban and rural areas. Directs the Commission to conduct a study to determine if the Department of Defense, the Veterans' Administration, and other Federal health facilities can be utilized to provide health care services in medically underserved areas. Defines the term "primary care" as first contact medical care services, including health promotion and disease prevention, and continuous patient management throughout secondary and tertiary treatment. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a plan to allow community health centers to retain earned income if the income is used to expand or improve the services of the center. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983: (1) to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for projects to plan and develop community health centers to serve medically underserved populations; and (2) to make grants for the costs of operation of public and nonprofit private community health centers which serve medically underserved populations. Defines, for purposes of the Public Health Service Act, the following terms: (1) community hospital; (2) hospital-affiliated primary care center (primary care center); (3) primary care group practice; and (4) primary care resident. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to community hospitals for planning, developing, and operating primary care centers in medically underserved populations. Sets forth specified assurances which a community hospital must include in an application for such a grant. Authorizes appropriations for such grants through fiscal year 1981. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to allow migrant health centers to retain earned income if the income is used to expand or improve services of the centers. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983 for: (1) grants to plan and develop migrant health centers; and (2) to make grants for the cost of operation of such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts to demonstrate new, improved, or expanded primary health and dental care delivery mechanisms in the community setting for medically underserved populations. Defines, for purposes of the Public Health Service Act, the following terms: (1) "Medically underserved population; (2) "rural"; and (3) "urban."

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1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 11 April 1978

  Open at official source

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