124 STAT. 677 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 ‘‘(1) GENERAL AMOUNTS FOR GRANTS.—For the purpose of carrying out this section, in addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (d), there is authorized to be appropriated the following: ‘‘(A) For fiscal year 2010, $2,988,821,592. ‘‘(B) For fiscal year 2011, $3,862,107,440. ‘‘(C) For fiscal year 2012, $4,990,553,440. ‘‘(D) For fiscal year 2013, $6,448,713,307. ‘‘(E) For fiscal year 2014, $7,332,924,155. ‘‘(F) For fiscal year 2015, $8,332,924,155. ‘‘(G) For fiscal year 2016, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of— ‘‘(i) one plus the average percentage increase in costs incurred per patient served; and ‘‘(ii) one plus the average percentage increase in the total number of patients served.’’. (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Section 330(r) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(r)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO RURAL HEALTH CLINICS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a community health center from con- tracting with a Federally certified rural health clinic (as defined in section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act), a low-volume hospital (as defined for purposes of section 1886 of such Act), a critical access hospital, a sole commu- nity hospital (as defined for purposes of section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii) of such Act), or a medicare-dependent share hospital (as defined for purposes of section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv) of such Act) for the delivery of primary health care services that are available at the clinic or hospital to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for free or reduced cost care if that individual were able to obtain that care at the community health center. Such services may be limited in scope to those primary health care services available in that clinic or hospitals. ‘‘(B) ASSURANCES.—In order for a clinic or hospital to receive funds under this section through a contract with a community health center under subparagraph (A), such clinic or hospital shall establish policies to ensure— ‘‘(i) nondiscrimination based on the ability of a patient to pay; and ‘‘(ii) the establishment of a sliding fee scale for low-income patients.’’. SEC. 5602. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF METH- ODOLOGY AND CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATING MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND HEALTH PROFES- SIONS SHORTAGE AREAS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish, through a negotiated rulemaking process under sub- chapter 3 of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, a com- prehensive methodology and criteria for designation of— Deadlines. 42 USC 254b note.
