Grants for comprehensive osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal disease health education within health professions schools

(a) Program authorized The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to academic health science centers, health professions schools, and institutions of higher education to enable such centers, schools, and institutions to provide people with comprehensive education on arthritis and musculoskeletal health, particularly— (1) obesity-related musculoskeletal diseases; (2) arthritis and osteoarthritis; (3) arthritis and musculoskeletal health disparities; and (4) the relationship between arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases and metabolic activity, psychological health, and comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lupus, and hypertension. (b) Duration Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (c) Applications An academic health science center, health professions school, or institution of higher education seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an institution of higher education that— (1) has an enrollment of needy students, as defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)); (2) is a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in section 502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)); (3) is a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 316(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)); (4) is an Alaska Native-serving institution, as defined in section 317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)); (5) is a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, as defined in section 317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)); (6) is a Predominately Black Institution, as defined in section 318(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)); (7) is a Native American-serving, nontribal institution, as defined in section 319(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b)); (8) is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, as defined in section 320(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)); or (9) is a minority institution, as defined in section 365 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k), with an enrollment of needy students, as defined in section 312 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1058). (e) Uses of funds An academic health science center, health professions school, or institution of higher education receiving a grant under this section may use the grant funds to integrate issues relating to comprehensive arthritis and musculoskeletal health into the academic or support sectors of the center, school, or institution in order to reach a large number of students, by carrying out 1 or more of the following activities: (1) Developing educational content for issues relating to comprehensive arthritis and musculoskeletal health education that will be incorporated into first-year orientation or core courses. (2) Creating innovative technology-based approaches to deliver arthritis and musculoskeletal health education to students, faculty, and staff. (3) Developing and employing peer-outreach and education programs to generate discussion, educate, and raise awareness among students about issues relating to arthritis and musculoskeletal health disorders, and their relationship to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, psychological health, and other comorbid conditions. (f) Report to congress (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period of 5 years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities to provide health professions students with comprehensive arthritis and musculoskeletal health education funded under this section. (2) Report elements The report described in paragraph (1) shall include information about— (A) the number of entities that are receiving a grant under this section; (B) the specific activities supported by grants under this section; (C) the number of students served by programs supported by grants under this section; and (D) the status of evaluations of such programs. (g) Definition of institution of higher education In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).