PUBLIC LAW 107-251—OCT. 26, 2002 116 STAT. 1641 "(4) TELEHEALTH. —The term 'telehealth' means the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. "(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities to establish demonstration projects for the provision of mental health services to special populations as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth and for the provision of education regarding mental illness as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth. "(2) POPULATIONS SERVED.— The Secretary shall award the grants under paragraph (1) in a manner that distributes the grants so as to serve equitably the populations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(4). " (c) USE OF FUNDS.— "(1) IN GENERAL. —An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds— "(A) for the populations described in subsection (a)(4)(A)— "(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and "(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services; and "(B) for the populations described in subsection (a)(4)(B)— "(i) to provide mental health services, including diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, in longterm care facilities as delivered remotely by qualified mental health professionals using telehealth; and "(ii) to collaborate with local public health entities to provide the mental health services. "(2) OTHER USES.— An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may also use the grant funds to— "(A) pay telecommunications costs; and "(B) pay qualified mental health professionals on a reasonable cost basis as determined by the Secretary for services rendered. "(3) PROHIBITED USES.— An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall not use the grant funds to— "(A) purchase or install transmission equipment (other than such equipment used by qualified mental health professionals to deliver mental health services using telehealth under the project involved); or "(B) build upon or acquire real property. "(d) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that such grants are equitably distributed among geographical regions of the United States. "(e) APPLICATION.— An entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
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