Florida Senate - 2012                                     SB 564
       
       
       
       By Senator Joyner
       
       
       
       
       18-00215-12                                            2012564__
    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         381.04016Minority 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 Department
   61  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 of
   66  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 wellness
   94  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 mortality
  104  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 in
  109  the percentage of minority individuals in the state who receive
  110  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 the
  125  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 for
  137  which state funding is being sought, the Department of Health,
  138  the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the Department of
  139  Elderly Affairs shall consider health issues concerning minority
  140  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 Minority
  148  Health and the Department of Health shall direct and carry out
  149  the provisions of this section and may work with the Executive
  150  Office of the Governor and other state agencies to carry out
  151  their duties and responsibilities under this section.
  152         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.