HB 459

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Office of Minority Health;
3	creating s. 381.04016, F.S.; providing legislative
4	intent; providing the duties of the Office of Minority
5	Health; requiring the Office of Minority Health to
6	submit an annual report to the Governor and
7	Legislature; requiring consideration of minority
8	health issues in state policy and planning; requiring
9	the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care
10	Administration, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the
11	Department of Corrections, and the Department of
12	Juvenile Justice to take minority health issues into
13	consideration in their annual planning; requiring that
14	boards or advisory boards of the Department of Health,
15	the Agency for Health Care Administration, or the
16	Department of Elderly Affairs seek equal
17	representation of certain members; providing for
18	responsibility and coordination with the Executive
19	Office of the Governor and other state agencies;
20	providing an effective date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1.  Section 381.04016, Florida Statutes, is created
25	to read:
26	381.04016  Minority health strategy; legislative intent;
27	duties of Office of Minority Health; other state agency duties.-
28	(1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-The Legislature recognizes that
29	despite state investments in health care, racial and ethnic
30	populations in this state continue to have significantly poorer
31	health outcomes when compared to non-Hispanic whites. The
32	Legislature further finds that the health care needs of
33	minorities are diverse and that delivery of services, research,
34	and public policy must take into account the distinct
35	characteristics of minority health issues. Priority shall be
36	given to improving the overall health status of minority men,
37	women, and children through research and education specific to
38	minority health issues. The Legislature recognizes the
39	importance of understanding why there is a large disparity
40	between minority groups and non-Hispanic whites with regard to
41	awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of certain diseases, and of
42	finding answers to this disparity through biomedical research.
43	Such research has important implications for all minority
44	individuals in terms of clinical practice and disease
45	manifestation and prevention. The Legislature recognizes that as
46	the state's population ages and life expectancy for minority
47	individuals continues to rise, it is of the utmost importance
48	for the Legislature to encourage strategies designed to reduce
49	health disparities, including, but not limited to, addressing
50	the array of health and social issues, ensuring comprehensive
51	elimination of health disparities, and promoting health equity
52	to ensure access to affordable and adequate health care that
53	meets specific health needs with regard to race and ethnicity.
54	The Legislature further finds and declares that the culturally
55	sensitive design and delivery of health care services and
56	medical education of all health care practitioners shall be
57	based on the principle that health care needs are diverse and
58	cultural competency training and medical education are essential
59	for effectively treating members of minority populations.
60	(2)  DUTIES.-The Office of Minority Health in the
61	Department of Health shall:
62	(a)  Ensure that the state's policies and programs are
63	responsive to minority differences and health needs across the
64	life span.
65	(b)  Administer the distribution of and provide oversight
66	of contract management for all funds that are designated for
67	reducing racial and ethnic health disparities and promoting
68	optimal health in minority populations.
69	(c)  Organize an interagency Committee for Minority Health
70	for the purpose of setting priorities for minority health and
71	integrating minority health programs within current operating
72	and service delivery structures. This committee shall be
73	comprised of the heads or directors of state agencies that
74	administer programs affecting minority health, including, but
75	not limited to, the Department of Health, the Agency for Health
76	Care Administration, the Department of Education, the Department
77	of Elderly Affairs, the Department of Corrections, the Office of
78	Insurance Regulation within the Department of Financial
79	Services, and the Department of Juvenile Justice.
80	(d)  Assess the health status of minorities in the state
81	through the collection and review of health data and trends.
82	(e)  Review and provide recommendations on the state's
83	insurance code as it relates to minority health issues.
84	(f)  Work with medical school curriculum committees to
85	develop course requirements on minority health and to promote
86	clinical practice guidelines that are specific to minority
87	issues and cultural competency.
88	(g)  Organize statewide activities during Minority Health
89	Month.
90	(h)  Promote research, treatment, and collaboration on
91	minority health issues at universities and medical centers in
92	the state.
93	(i)  Promote employer incentives for prevention and
94	wellness programs that emphasize minority health.
95	(j)  Serve as the primary state resource for the
96	coordination of minority health information.
97	(k)  Develop a statewide minority health plan that promotes
98	collaborative approaches to meeting the health needs of minority
99	populations. The plan shall:
100	1.  Identify activities designed to reduce the number of
101	premature deaths in minority populations and identify
102	appropriate resources to implement those activities, including:
103	a.  Providing specific strategies for reducing the
104	mortality rate of minority individuals.
105	b.  Listing conditions that may cause or contribute to
106	disease in minority populations and the best methods by which to
107	identify, control, and prevent these conditions from developing.
108	c.  Identifying the best methods for ensuring an increase
109	in the percentage of minority individuals in the state who
110	receive screening and diagnostic testing.
111	2.  Provide recommendations for the development of practice
112	guidelines for addressing disease in minority populations.
113	3.  Provide recommendations for reducing health disparities
114	and promoting optimal health among all racial and ethnic groups.
115	4.  Coordinate with existing program plans that address
116	minority health issues.
117	(l)  Promote clinical practice guidelines specific to
118	minority individuals.
119	(m)  Serve as the state's liaison with other states and
120	federal agencies and programs to develop best practices in
121	minority health.
122	(n)  Develop a statewide, web-based clearinghouse on
123	minority health issues and resources.
124	(o)  Promote public awareness campaigns and education on
125	the health needs of minority individuals.
126	(p)  By January 15 of each year, provide to the Governor,
127	the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
128	Representatives a report containing policy recommendations for
129	implementing the provisions of this section.
130	(3)  DUTIES OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES.-
131	(a)  The Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care
132	Administration, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the
133	Department of Corrections, and the Department of Juvenile
134	Justice shall take minority health issues into consideration in
135	their annual planning.
136	(b)  When assessing research and demonstration proposals
137	for which state funding is being sought, the Department of
138	Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the
139	Department of Elderly Affairs shall consider health issues
140	concerning minority populations and dissimilar outcomes.
141	(c)  Boards or advisory bodies that fall under the purview
142	of the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care
143	Administration, or the Department of Elderly Affairs shall seek
144	equal representation of minority women and men and include
145	members who are knowledgeable and sensitive to minority
146	diversity issues.
147	(4)  RESPONSIBILITY AND COORDINATION.-The Office of
148	Minority Health and the Department of Health shall direct and
149	carry out the provisions of this section and may work with the
150	Executive Office of the Governor and other state agencies to
151	carry out their duties and responsibilities under this section.
152	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.