113 STAT. 1656 PUBLIC LAW 106-129—DEC. 6, 1999 " P ART B—HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH 42 USC 299b. "SEC. 911. HEALTH CARE OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH. "(a) EVIDENCE RATING SYSTEMS. —In collaboration with experts from the public and private sector, the Agency shall identify and disseminate methods or systems to assess health care research results, particuleirly methods or systems to rate the strength of the scientific evidence underlying health care practice, recommendations in the research literature, and technology assessments. The Agency shall make methods or systems for evidence rating widely available. Agency publications containing health care recommendations shall indicate the level of substantiating evidence using such methods or systems. "(b) HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH CENTERS AND PRO- VIDER-BASED RESEARCH NETWORKS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to address the full continuimi of care and outcomes research, to link research to practice improvement, and to speed the dissemination of research findings to community practice settings, the Agency shall employ research strategies and mechanisms that will link research directly with clinical practice in geographically diverse locations throughout the United States, including— "(A) health care improvement research centers that combine demonstrated multidisciplinary expertise in outcomes or quality improvement research with linkages to relevant sites of care; "(B) provider-based research networks, including plan, facility, or delivery system sites of care (especially primary care), that can evaluate outcomes and evaluate and promote quality improvement; and "(C) other innovative mechanisms or strategies to link research with clinical practice. "(2) REQUIREMENTS.— The Director is authorized to establish the requirements for entities applying for grants under this subsection. 42 USC 299b-l. "SEC. 912. PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE ORGANIZA- TION AND DELIVERY. " (a) SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP INFORMATION ON QUALITY.— "(1) SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.— In its role as the principal agency for health care research and quality, the Agency may provide scientific and technical support for private and public efforts to improve health care quality, including the activities of accrediting organizations. "(2) ROLE OF THE AGENCY.— With respect to paragraph (1), the role of the Agency shall include— "(A) the identification and assessment of methods for the evaluation of the health of— "(i) enrollees in health plans by tj^e of plan, provider, and provider arrsingements; and "(ii) other populations, including those receiving long-term care services; "(B) the ongoing development, testing, and dissemination of quality measures, including measures of health and functional outcomes;
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