House Bill 1460

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO CLOSE THE GAP IN DISPARITIES IN THE HEALTH STATUS OF ALL RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS; TO REQUIRE A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT; TO ESTABLISH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES; TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SELECTION OF CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES; TO REQUIRE EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. It is the goal of the state by 2010, to decrease the disparities in all gender and racial groups in many diseases and preventable conditions. In order to achieve this and other measurable outcomes, the State Health Officer shall establish a program to close the gap in the health status in all racial and ethnic groups in the following priority areas: infant mortality, breast and cervical cancer screening, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, adult and child immunizations, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, accidental injuries and violence.

SECTION 2. The State Health Officer, in partnership with community based organizations and partners specializing in health disparities in all gender and racial groups shall develop a comprehensive, coordinated plan to reduce health disparities in the health disparity priority areas identified in Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3. The State Health Officer shall review current data to support a statewide assessment of the risk behaviors associated with the health disparity priority areas identified in Section 1 of this act. The statewide assessment shall consist of focus groups, needs assessment surveys and key informant interviews. The statewide assessment must be used to establish a baseline to measure the effect of activities that may be funded in future legislation. To the extent feasible, the assessment shall be conducted so that the results may be compared to national data.

SECTION 4. The State Health Officer, in consultation with community based organizations and partners, shall establish measurable outcomes to achieve the goal specified in Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 5. The State Health Officer shall subcontract with an entity specializing in health disparities, with at least four (4) years experience and located in the State of Mississippi to provide the necessary expertise to ensure that the planning process is successful in reducing the health disparities identified in Section 1 of this act. The State Health Officer shall provide Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) in funding to the subcontract organization to conduct the (a) needs assessment; (b) development of outcomes; and (c) to manage the planning process, coordination and evaluation.

SECTION 6. (a) The State Health Officer shall identify community based organizations and partners in all gender and racial groups, develop the criteria and procedures to select these organizations as planning partners and engage them in the process to plan to eliminate health disparities. At the time the community based organizations and partners are selected, the State Health Officer must inform these organizations of the intent and purpose of the outcomes to be jointly established according to Section 3 of this act; (b) the plan will include sections on morbidity and mortality for health disparities listed in Section 1 of this act, a review and report of the statewide needs assessment process, measurable outcomes and a complete description of a community grant program for health disparities. The community grant program shall describe, but not be limited to, the funding purpose, eligibility criteria and program requirements and activities.

SECTION 7. The State Health Officer shall coordinate the Closing the Gap program with other projects and initiatives funded from state and federal funds to avoid duplication and promote complementary efforts.

SECTION 8. The State Health Officer shall conduct a biennial evaluation of the Closing the Gap program.

SECTION 9. The State Health Officer shall submit a biennial report to the Legislature on the Closing the Gap program. The report must include information on activities that were conducted using grant funds, evaluation data, and outcome measures, if available.

SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.