124 STAT. 598 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 accordance with this section, including coordination with the Bureau of Labor Statistics; (B) carry out, or award grants or contracts for the carrying out of, original research and development, where existing information is inadequate, and (C) adopt procedures allowing interested parties to submit information for the Commission’s use in making reports and recommendations. (2) ACCESS OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE TO INFORMATION.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall have unrestricted access to all deliberations, records, and data of the Commission, immediately upon request. (3) PERIODIC AUDIT.—The Commission shall be subject to periodic audit by an independent public accountant under con- tract to the Commission. (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (1) REQUEST FOR APPROPRIATIONS.—The Commission shall submit requests for appropriations in the same manner as the Comptroller General of the United States submits requests for appropriations. Amounts so appropriated for the Commis- sion shall be separate from amounts appropriated for the Comp- troller General. (2) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appro- priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. (3) GIFTS AND SERVICES.—The Commission may not accept gifts, bequeaths, or donations of property, but may accept and use donations of services for purposes of carrying out this section. (i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.—The term ‘‘health care workforce’’ includes all health care providers with direct patient care and support responsibilities, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, primary care providers, preventive medi- cine physicians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, dental hygienists, and other oral healthcare professionals, allied health professionals, doc- tors of chiropractic, community health workers, health care paraprofessionals, direct care workers, psychologists and other behavioral and mental health professionals (including sub- stance abuse prevention and treatment providers), social workers, physical and occupational therapists, certified nurse midwives, podiatrists, the EMS workforce (including profes- sional and volunteer ambulance personnel and firefighters who perform emergency medical services), licensed complementary and alternative medicine providers, integrative health practi- tioners, public health professionals, and any other health professional that the Comptroller General of the United States determines appropriate. (2) HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.—The term ‘‘health profes- sionals’’ includes— (A) dentists, dental hygienists, primary care providers, specialty physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists and other behavioral and mental health professionals (including substance abuse prevention and treatment providers), social workers, physical and occupational therapists, public health professionals, clinical
