US Code

Public Law 119-102 (07/12/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 299a–1

Research on health disparities

Section text and notes

(a)

In general

The Director shall—
(1)
conduct and support research to identify populations for which there is a significant disparity in the quality, outcomes, cost, or use of health care services or access to and satisfaction with such services, as compared to the general population;
(2)
conduct and support research on the causes of and barriers to reducing the health disparities identified in paragraph (1), taking into account such factors as socioeconomic status, attitudes toward health, the language spoken, the extent of formal education, the area or community in which the population resides, and other factors the Director determines to be appropriate;
(3)
conduct and support research and support demonstration projects to identify, test, and evaluate strategies for reducing or eliminating health disparities, including development or identification of effective service delivery models, and disseminate effective strategies and models;
(4)
develop measures and tools for the assessment and improvement of the outcomes, quality, and appropriateness of health care services provided to health disparity populations;
(5)
section 299a(c) of this title in carrying out , provide support to increase the number of researchers who are members of health disparity populations, and the health services research capacity of institutions that train such researchers; and
(6)
beginning with fiscal year 2003, annually submit to the Congress a report regarding prevailing disparities in health care delivery as it relates to racial factors and socioeconomic factors in priority populations.
(b)

Research and demonstration projects

(1)

In general

In carrying out subsection (a), the Director shall conduct and support research and support demonstrations to—
(A)
identify the clinical, cultural, socioeconomic, geographic, and organizational factors that contribute to health disparities, including minority health disparity populations, which research shall include behavioral research, such as examination of patterns of clinical decisionmaking, and research on access, outreach, and the availability of related support services (such as cultural and linguistic services);
(B)
identify and evaluate clinical and organizational strategies to improve the quality, outcomes, and access to care for health disparity populations, including minority health disparity populations;
(C)
test such strategies and widely disseminate those strategies for which there is scientific evidence of effectiveness; and
(D)
determine the most effective approaches for disseminating research findings to health disparity populations, including minority populations.
(2)

Use of certain strategies

In carrying out this section, the Director shall implement research strategies and mechanisms that will enhance the involvement of individuals who are members of minority health disparity populations or other health disparity populations, health services researchers who are such individuals, institutions that train such individuals as researchers, members of minority health disparity populations or other health disparity populations for whom the Agency is attempting to improve the quality and outcomes of care, and representatives of appropriate tribal or other community-based organizations with respect to health disparity populations. Such research strategies and mechanisms may include the use of—
(A)
centers of excellence that can demonstrate, either individually or through consortia, a combination of multi-disciplinary expertise in outcomes or quality improvement research, linkages to relevant sites of care, and a demonstrated capacity to involve members and communities of health disparity populations, including minority health disparity populations, in the planning, conduct, dissemination, and translation of research;
(B)
provider-based research networks, including health plans, facilities, or delivery system sites of care (especially primary care), that make extensive use of health care providers who are members of health disparity populations or who serve patients in such populations and have the capacity to evaluate and promote quality improvement;
(C)
section 254b of this title service delivery models (such as health centers under and the Indian Health Service) to reduce health disparities; and
(D)
innovative mechanisms or strategies that will facilitate the translation of past research investments into clinical practices that can reasonably be expected to benefit these populations.
(c)

Quality measurement development

(1)

In general

To ensure that health disparity populations, including minority health disparity populations, benefit from the progress made in the ability of individuals to measure the quality of health care delivery, the Director shall support the development of quality of health care measures that assess the experience of such populations with health care systems, such as measures that assess the access of such populations to health care, the cultural competence of the care provided, the quality of the care provided, the outcomes of care, or other aspects of health care practice that the Director determines to be important.

(2)

Examination of certain practices

The Director shall examine the practices of providers that have a record of reducing health disparities or have experience in providing culturally competent health services to minority health disparity populations or other health disparity populations. In examining such practices of providers funded under the authorities of this chapter, the Director shall consult with the heads of the relevant agencies of the Public Health Service.

(3)

Report

Not later than 36 months after , the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the state-of-the-art of quality measurement for minority and other health disparity populations that will identify critical unmet needs, the current activities of the Department to address those needs, and a description of related activities in the private sector.

(d)

Definition

For purposes of this section:
(1)
section 285t of this title The term “health disparity population” has the meaning given such term in , except that in addition to the meaning so given, the Director may determine that such term includes populations for which there is a significant disparity in the quality, outcomes, cost, or use of health care services or access to or satisfaction with such services as compared to the general population.
(2)
section 300u–6 of this title The term “minority”, with respect to populations, refers to racial and ethnic minority groups as defined in .

July 1, 1944, ch. 373 Pub. L. 106–525, title II, § 201(a)(2)114 Stat. 2505 Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10334(c)(3)(B)124 Stat. 974 (, title IX, § 903, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 903 Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(a)103 Stat. 2190 Pub. L. 102–410, § 3106 Stat. 2094 Pub. L. 103–43, title XIV, § 1422(a)107 Stat. 172 Pub. L. 106–129section 299c–3 of this titleA prior section 299a–1, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to public dissemination of information about studies and projects prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by . See .

section 299c of this titlePub. L. 99–117A prior section 903 of act , was classified to prior to repeal by .

Pub. L. 106–129Prior sections 299a–2 and 299a–3 were omitted in the general amendment of this subchapter by .

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 904 Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(a)103 Stat. 2191 Pub. L. 102–410, § 4(a)106 Stat. 2095 Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, § 2013(1)107 Stat. 214 section 299b–5 of this titleSection 299a–2, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to health care technology assessment. See .

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 905 Pub. L. 105–115, title IV, § 409111 Stat. 2371 section 299b–1(b) of this titleSection 299a–3, , as added , , , established demonstration program regarding centers for education and research on therapeutics. See .

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–1482010—Subsec. (d)(1). substituted “285t” for “287c–31”.