--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 299b–6" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "299b–6" heading: "Coordination of Federal Government quality improvement efforts" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/299b-6" units: - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service" - "Subchapter VII — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality" - "Part B — Health Care Improvement Research" --- # §299b–6. Coordination of Federal Government quality improvement efforts - (a) **Requirement—** - (1) **In general—** To avoid duplication and ensure that Federal resources are used efficiently and effectively, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), shall coordinate all research, evaluations, and demonstrations related to [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a), quality measurement and quality improvement activities undertaken and supported by the Federal Government. - (2) **Specific activities—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), in collaboration with the appropriate Federal officials representing all concerned executive [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and departments, shall develop and manage a process to— - (A) improve interagency coordination, priority setting, and the use and sharing of research findings and data pertaining to Federal quality improvement [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), technology assessment, and [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a); - (B) strengthen the research information infrastructure, including databases, pertaining to Federal [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a) and health care quality improvement initiatives; - (C) set specific goals for participating [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and departments to further [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a) and health care quality improvement; and - (D) strengthen the management of Federal health care quality improvement [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4). - (b) **Study by the Institute of Medicine—** - (1) **In general—** To provide Congress, the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and other relevant departments with an independent, external review of their quality oversight, quality improvement and quality research [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine— - (A) to describe and evaluate current quality improvement, quality research and quality monitoring processes through— - (i) an overview of pertinent [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a) activities and quality improvement efforts conducted by all Federal [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), with particular attention paid to those under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 1395](/usc/42/1395.md) et seq., 1396 et seq., 1397aa et seq.]; and - (ii) a summary of the partnerships that the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) has pursued with private accreditation, quality measurement and improvement organizations; and - (B) to identify options and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of quality improvement [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) through— - (i) the improved coordination of activities across the medicare, medicaid and child health insurance [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under titles XVIII, XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act and [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4); - (ii) the strengthening of patient choice and participation by incorporating [state](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)-of-the-art quality monitoring tools and making information on quality available; and - (iii) the enhancement of the most effective [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), consolidation as appropriate, and elimination of duplicative activities within various Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1). - (2) **Requirements—** - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine for the preparation— - (i) not later than 12 months after December 6, 1999, of a report providing an overview of the quality improvement [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for the medicare, medicaid, and CHIP [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act; and - (ii) not later than 24 months after December 6, 1999, of a final report containing recommendations. - (B) **Reports—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall submit the reports described in [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A) to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives. ## Source credit (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 917, as added Pub. L. 106–129, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1661.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.), XIX (§ 1396 et seq.), and XXI (§ 1397aa et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables. ### Codification December 6, 1999, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), was in the original “the date of the enactment of this title”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–129, which amended this subchapter generally, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Change of Name Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and exchanges and insurance generally transferred to Committee on Financial Services of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001.