Designation of Health Investment Zones

(a) Designation (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, pursuant to applications submitted under subsection (c), designate areas as Health Investment Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas. (2) Eligibility of area To be designated as a Health Investment Zone under this section, an area shall— (A) be a contiguous geographic area; and (B) have measurable and documented geographic health disparities and poor health outcomes, demonstrated by— (i) average income below 150 percent of the Federal poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget based on the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census); (ii) a rate of participation in the special supplemental nutrition program under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) that is higher than the national average rate of participation in such program; (iii) lower life expectancy than the national average; (iv) a higher percentage of instances of low birth weight than the national average; or (v) designation under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) as a health professional shortage area. (3) Publication of designee information Not later than 1 year after the date on which all areas are designated as Health Investment Zones under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services— (A) the name of each such Health Investment Zone, together with the names of each coalition partner; and (B) a description of all areas so designated. (b) Solicitation of applications Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit applications under subsection (c). (c) Submission of applications (1) In general To seek the designation of an area as a Health Investment Zone, a community-based nonprofit organization or local governmental agency, in coalition with health care providers, hospitals, nonprofit community health clinics, health centers, social service organizations, and other related organizations, shall submit an application to the Secretary. (2) Applications for grants As part of an application under this subsection, a community-based nonprofit organization or local governmental agency may include an application for a grant under section 4(a). Such community-based nonprofit organization or local governmental agency shall describe how the use of grant funds would be consistent with the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (d)(1) and whether such community-based nonprofit organization or local governmental agency intends to award subgrants or implement innovative public health strategies under section 4(b). (d) Contents An application under subsection (c) shall— (1) include an effective and sustainable plan with respect to the area proposed for designation— (A) to reduce health disparities; (B) to reduce the costs of, or to produce savings to, the health care system; (C) to improve health outcomes; and (D) to utilize one or more of the incentives established pursuant to section 5, section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by section 3(a)), for wages paid to qualified Health Investment Zone workers (as defined in section 51(d)(16) of such Code), section 25G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by section 3(b)), or subsection (ee) of section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l) (as amended by section 6) to address health care provider capacity, improve health services delivery, effectuate community improvements, or conduct outreach and education efforts; and (2) identify specific diseases or indicators of health for improvement of health outcomes in such area, including at least 1 of the following: (A) Cardiovascular disease. (B) Asthma. (C) Diabetes. (D) Behavioral health. (E) Maternal and birth health. (F) Obesity. (e) Considerations The Secretary— (1) shall consider geographic diversity, among other factors, in selecting areas for designation as Health Investment Zones; and (2) may conduct outreach efforts to encourage a geographically diverse pool of applicants, including for designating Health Investment Zones in rural areas. (f) Priority In selecting areas for designation as Health Investment Zones, the Secretary shall give higher priority to applications based on the extent to which an area demonstrates the following: (1) Support from, and participation of, key stakeholders in the area proposed for designation, including residents and local governments of such area. (2) A plan for long-term funding and sustainability. (3) Integration with any applicable State health improvement process or plan. (4) A plan for evaluation of the impact of designation of such area as a Health Investment Zone. (5) A plan to utilize existing State tax credits, grants, or other incentives to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in the proposed Health Investment Zone. (6) Such other factors as the Secretary determines are appropriate to demonstrate a commitment to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such area. (g) Period of designation The designation under this section of an area as a Health Investment Zone shall be in effect until the date that is 10 years after the date on which the first such area is so designated.