State Laws Addressing Health Disparities
Cultural Competency | Health Professionals and Recruitment | Disease Burden and Risk Factor Management
|
State |
Description |
|
FL |
Fla. Stat. § 381.7352 creates the Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Closing the Gap grants. The purpose of the grant program is to stimulate the development of community-based and neighborhood-based projects to improve the health outcomes of racial and ethnic populations. The programs should also foster the development of coordinated, collaborative, and broad-based participation by public and private entities, and faith-based organizations. The grant program will function as a partnership between state and local governments, faith-based organizations, and private-sector health care providers, including managed care, voluntary health care resources, social service providers, and nontraditional partners. The law requires the department to provide technical assistance and training to grant recipients and to develop a monitoring system and uniform data reporting requirements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the grant recipients and demonstrating improved health outcomes.
Fla. Stat. § 0320.08056 requires that annual use fees from the hospice license plates be used to fund projects related to hospice care for special groups such as ethnic and minority groups.
HB 1269 (2007) Provides for legislative intent regarding the black infant health practice initiative; requires local community to develop team to serve as part of statewide practice collaborative; requires healthy start coalitions to conduct case reviews; requires certain public universities or colleges to provide technical assistance, to assist in determining certain criteria, and to present findings and make recommendations; provides for grants and for immunity from liability. (Status: Sent to Governor 6-19-07) |
|
IN |
Ind. Code § 16-46-11-1 directs the state department of health to develop and implement a state structure more conducive to addressing the health disparities of the minority populations in Indiana including: monitoring minority health progress; funding minority health programs, research, and other initiatives; staffing a minority health hotline; developing and implementing an awareness program that will increase the knowledge of health and social service providers to the special needs of minorities; and developing and implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion and disease prevention programs. |
|
KY |
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 205.201 outlines the duties of the cabinet for families and children. Among other things, the cabinet will provide services through the programs that they administer designed to meet the needs of the minority elderly. The cabinet will prepare a report identifying the special needs of the minority elderly population with the input of individuals and organizations representing the concerns of this population. The law also requires the cabinet to conduct an outreach program providing information to minority elderly about available programs to address health and social problems. |
|
MD |
Md. Chapter No. 162 (2002 SB451) Authorizing the Maryland Health Care Foundation to provide financial support to programs that expand access to health care services for uninsured and underinsured Marylanders and reduce health disparities for Marylanders; requires the Foundation to develop specified criteria for awarding grants to programs that may include programs addressing health care disparities; requires that the Foundation consider a geographical balance by county and region and that the geographical balance consider specified provisions; etc.
Md. Chapter No. 412 (2007 HB524) Requires the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to convene a Workgroup on Cultural Competency and Workforce Development for Mental Health Professionals; requires the workgroup to include representatives from specified groups; provides for the purpose and goals of the Workgroup; requires the Workgroup to develop specified recommendations.
Md. Chapter No. 26 (2007 HB788) Authorizes specified entities that provide health insurance to make an inquiry about race and ethnicity under specified circumstances, and subject to specified limitations; prohibits the use of specified racial or ethnic information to deny or otherwise affect a health insurance policy or contract; makes certain provisions of laws applicable to health maintenance organizations. |
|
MT |
Mt Chapter No. 128 (2005 H.B 452), Implements a redesign of the Medicaid program specifically involving Indian tribes and health service care facilities; requests a waiver; relates to the children's health insurance program and purchase of prescription drugs. |
|
NE |
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-7605 et seq creates the Excellence in Health Care Trust Fund which will be used for awarding grants for public health services which focus on health education, preventive health measures, and environmental health, assessment, and assurance, including services for reservation or service areas of federally recognized Native American tribes in Nebraska and organizations that focus on the health of minority groups. It also requires that the Department of Health and Human Services contract with the health clinics of Nebraska's federally recognized Native American tribes, Indian health organizations, or other public health organizations that have a substantial Native American clientele to provide educational and public health services targeted to Native American populations. |
|
NM |
N.M. Stat. § 9-7-11.1 requires the Department of Health and the New Mexico Health Policy Commission to consult with governments of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos in order to develop a strategic plan for health. The strategic plan is to be published by July 1, 2004 and July 1 of subsequent even-numbered years and will a focus on prevention, personal responsibility, access, and quality.
N.M Chapter No. 51 (S.B 34) requires the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for health; provides for consultation with the governments of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos |
|
OR |
SB 0878 (2003) relates to medical assistance; relates to eligibility for Oregon Health Plan Plus benefits; makes individuals who are eligible for or receiving medical assistance and American Indian and Alaskan Native benefits eligible for benefits under certain circumstances.
Chapter No. 49 (2005) Directs the Department of Human Services to contract for provision of maternal and child public health services with the tribal governing council of recognized Indian tribes that request to receive funds under certain federal grant programs. |
|
TN |
Tenn. H.J.R. 105 Names and designates April 2003, and each April thereafter, as Minority Health Awareness Month. |
| VA |
Chapter No. 636 (2006 HB413) Establishes the Virginia Cord Blood Bank Initiative as a public resource for the treatment of patients with life-threatening illnesses or in the event of a terrorist attack, to be used in the treatment of injured citizens; provides that the initiative will conduct outreach and research, particularly for ethnic and racial minorities and that information will be disseminated through health departments and Medicaid.
Chapter No. 343 (2006 HB3043) Requires the Commissioner to designate a senior staff member of the Department of Health, who shall be a licensed physician, to oversee minority health efforts of the Department. |
| WA |
Chapter No. 238 (2006 SB6196) Includes a member of the American Indian health commission for Washington state on the State Board of Health |
|
WI |
Wis. Stat. § 146.19 authorizes the department of health and family services to award grants for cooperative American Indian health projects in order to promote cooperation among tribes, tribal agencies, inter-tribal organizations and other agencies and organizations in addressing specific problem areas in the field of American Indian health.
Wis. Stat. § 146.185 requires the department of health and family services to conduct statewide hearings on health issues of the economically disadvantaged minority group members in the state. The law also directs the department to review, monitor, and advise all state agencies with respect to the impact on the health of the economically disadvantaged minority group members of current and emerging state policies, procedures, practices, statutes and rules and to work closely with interested parties to develop long term solutions to the health problems of this population. The department is charged with encouraging minority students to enter health care professions and to disseminate information on the status of the health of economically disadvantaged minority group members. Finally, the law directs the department to administer a grant program to improve the health status of this population. |
|
State |
Description |
| FL |
Fla Chapter No. 2004-365 (2004 SB1178, HB645) provides for the Department of health to monitor and report on Florida's status of attainment of Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives currently tracked by department; requires department to work with various groups to educate health care professionals on racial and ethnic issues in health, to recruit and train health care professionals from minority backgrounds, and to promote certain research; requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to contract with minority physician networks, etc. |
| MD |
Md. Health Code § 20-902 and 20-903 authorizes certain institutions of higher education to offer courses in the curriculum or special seminars that address the identification and elimination of health disparities among minority populations. Hospitals with a continuing education program are also authorized to offer and require medical staff to attend continuing education courses addressing health disparities.
Md. Chapter No. 349 (2003 HB1065) requires the Governor, when appointing members of the Health Services Cost Review Commission to fill vacancies, to make appointments, when appropriate, that would promote diversity within the Commission by race, gender, and geography.
Md. Chapter No. 453 (2003 HB883) declares the intent of the General Assembly; authorizing specified institutions of higher education in the State to include courses in the curriculum or offer special seminars on health care services disparities of specified minority populations; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Maryland Healthcare Foundation, to develop and implement a plan to reduce health care disparities; etc. |
| MN |
Minn. Stat. § 137.42 requests that the University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Medicine apply for a federal Area Health Education Center Program grant to plan, develop and operate area health education center programs. Each program, among other things, must carry out recruitment and health career awareness programs among minority and other students in medically underserved areas of the state. |
| TN |
Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-1-1601 to 1603 (1998) establishes the Area Health Education Center Programs of Tennessee to use educational interventions through community academic partnerships to improve primary care in underserved areas. Among other things, the programs will recruit minority and underprivileged individuals into health care professions. |
|
State |
Description |
| AL |
Act No. 71 (2007 AL S.J.R. 12) Urges the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus and the Legislature of Alabama to recognize Alzheimer's as a chronic debilitating disease and its disproportionate impact on African-American citizens. |
|
AR |
Ark. Stat. Ann. § 19-12-114 requires the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to establish the Targeted State Needs Programs which includes the Minority Health Initiative administered by the Minority Health Commission. This initiative will raise awareness and provide screening for hypertension to minority groups in Arkansas.
Ark. Public Act 865 (2003 HB2215) requires that one member of the Oversight Committee on Prostate and Testicular Cancer be African-American and that the Minority Health Commission be involved in the Committee's efforts to raise awareness concerning the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers. |
|
CA |
Resolution Chapter No. 151 Establishes a Task Force on Diabetes and Obesity to study factors contributing to the high rates of diabetes and obesity in Latinos, African-Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.
Resolution Chapter No. 103 Declares that the hepatitis B virus chronic infection rate among Asian and Pacific Islander Americans reflects a health disparity. Urges the medical community, including physicians and school health personnel, to emphasize the need for completion of the 3-dose HBV vaccination series to their patients, and parents of Asian Pacific Islander Children, including those entering public school between the 1st and 6th grade, or after the 7th grade. Requires such vaccination programs target those high risk groups. |
| CO |
Chapter No. 318 (2007 HB1301) Establishes the Cervical Cancer Immunization Program to immunize female minors and women against cervical cancer; directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate ways of making cervical cancer vaccine available; encourages federally qualified health centers to contract with local public health agencies to administer vaccinations to underinsured female minors; authorizes local public health agencies to administer vaccinations to underinsured female minors; establishes a related fund |
| HI |
Act No. 199 (2005 HB3259) Increases the State's ability to address the dental- health crisis it faces regarding QUEST-eligible adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured by appropriating funds for the department of health to contract with federally qualified health centers to help the greatest number of individuals who need dental care; establishes community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations |
|
IL |
Ill. Public Act 93-0787 (2003 HB686) amends the Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Clinical Research Act; defines minority group by certain racial, ethnic and cultural categories; includes American Indian and Alaska Natives; requires a grantee, in conducting or supporting a project of clinical research, to comply with the National Institutes of Health Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as subjects in clinical research.
Ill. Public Act 93-0514 (2003 HB274) creates the Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Clinical Research Act that requires clinical research grantees receiving state funds must ensure that women and minorities be included as subjects in the research projects. |
|
MD |
Md. Health Code Ann. § 18-801 requires the office of oral health to establish an African-American oral cancer initiative to promote screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of oral cancer in African-American men. |
|
TN |
Tenn. Code § 68-1-1701 creates the Memphis/Shelby county "Strike Out Stroke" pilot project to build the capacity of health care providers to control hypertension and treat cardiovascular disease through increased professional education. The pilot will also work to provide the appropriate standards for equipment, screening and measurement of blood pressure and to raise awareness of the general public, and specifically the minority community, about the importance of controlling high blood pressure. The program is to be a three-year pilot project and the project cost is not to exceed $100,000. |
Minority Health Commissions Laws || Sickle Cell Laws || NCSL & Other Resources - Health Disparities || Health Disparities Home Page || Health Programs Home Page
|
