Sponsors (58)
Last progress June 5, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 5, 2025 by Troy Balderson
Reauthorizes and updates the Project ECHO grant program and creates a new, dedicated Project ECHO grant authority for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It requires the Secretary to award grants that use technology‑enabled collaborative learning (tele‑mentoring and case‑based learning) to improve early diagnosis, dementia care, and provider retention. The law defines eligible applicants and health professionals, sets application and reporting requirements, authorizes specific funding levels, and sets deadlines including a 1‑year deadline to award the Alzheimer’s grants and a 4‑year deadline for an updated report to the Secretary.
Amends the definition of “eligible entity” in 42 U.S.C. 254c–20(a)(1). For grants under subsection (b)(1), an eligible entity is one that provides or supports health care services in rural areas, frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or to medically underserved populations or Native Americans (including Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations), and may include entities that lead or can lead a technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity-building model. For grants under subsection (b)(2), an eligible entity is a public or nonprofit private entity that is leading, or is capable of leading, the model described in subsection (b)(2)(A) for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Adds subsection (b)(2): Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall award one or more Project ECHO grants to eligible entities to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity-building models for eligible health care professionals to improve retention of health care providers and to increase access to early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and quality dementia care.
Defines “eligible health care professional” for subsection (b)(2) as a health care professional who (i) provides primary care services, including services provided in rural areas, frontier areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically underserved areas, or to medically underserved populations or Native Americans, and (ii) is licensed, registered, or certified in accordance with applicable law for providing such services.
Amends the application requirements (section 330N(f)): An eligible entity seeking a grant under subsection (b) must submit an application containing information the Secretary requires. Applications must include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity-building models on patient outcomes and health care providers; and, for applications for grants under subsection (b)(2), assurances that funds received under such grant shall supplement and not supplant funds received from any other source.
Amends section 330N(e) to adjust reporting requirements and to expressly require entities awarded a grant under subsection (b)(2) to follow specified reporting language (the amendment replaces references to “this section” with references to subsection (b)(1) and inserts a requirement regarding entities awarded grants under subsection (b)(2)). The amendment text changes the scope of which subsection the existing reporting sentence references.
Who is affected and how:
Health care providers and the broader health care workforce: Primary care clinicians, geriatricians, behavioral health providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and care teams will gain access to virtual mentoring, case review, and training to improve competence in early dementia diagnosis and ongoing dementia care. This can increase provider confidence, reduce isolation for clinicians in rural or underserved areas, and support retention by connecting them to specialist networks.
People with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers: Improved provider capability and earlier diagnosis should increase access to timely care, care planning, and interventions, especially in areas with few dementia specialists. Family caregivers may see better-coordinated care and access to provider guidance.
Eligible organizations and academic centers: Hospitals, community health centers, academic health centers, and other eligible entities can apply for grants to host ECHO programs, expanding local training infrastructure and tele‑mentoring capacity.
Federal agencies and program administration: The Secretary (agency administering the grants) must set up grant competitions, manage award timelines (including a 1‑year award deadline), oversee grantee reporting, and produce an updated program report in four years, increasing administrative workload but also creating clearer evaluative milestones.
Funding and budgets: The statute authorizes funding levels, which, if appropriated, would expand program activities; if not appropriated, authorization alone does not create immediate spending. States and local providers could benefit if appropriations follow and grants are awarded.
Overall effect: The change is focused and programmatic—intended to build workforce capacity and expand access to dementia expertise through virtual collaborative learning. Implementation will depend on appropriations and agency execution; organizations that apply will face new application and reporting requirements but can gain resources to scale dementia education and support.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.