March 3, 2005, Introduced by Reps. Murphy, Gonzales, Zelenko, Williams, Whitmer, McConico, Leland, Clemente, Condino, Tobocman, Farrah, Lipsey, Alma Smith, Clack, Cushingberry, Plakas and Hopgood and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
"Public health code,"
(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 2227.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2227. The department shall do all of the following:
(a) Develop and implement a state structure more conducive to
addressing the health disparities of the minority population in
this state.
(b) Monitor minority health progress.
(c) Establish minority health policy.
(d) Fund minority health programs, research, and other
initiatives.
(e) Provide the following through interdepartmental
coordination:
(i) The data and technical assistance needs of local minority
health coalitions.
(ii) Measurable minority health objectives to local minority
health coalitions for the development of health intervention
programs.
(f) Establish a state health data center for minority health
research and resource information addressing all of the following:
(i) Research within minority populations.
(ii) A resource database that can be distributed to local
organizations interested in minority health.
(iii) Racial and ethnic specific databases including, but not
limited to, morbidity, diagnostic groups, social and economic
groups, education, and population.
(iv) Attitude, knowledge, and belief information.
(g) Staff a minority health hotline that establishes linkages
with other health and social service hotlines and local coalitions.
(h) Develop and implement an aggressive recruitment and
retention program to increase the number of minorities in the
health and social services professions.
(i) Develop and implement an awareness program that will
increase the knowledge of health and social service providers to
the special needs of minorities.
(j) Develop and implement culturally and linguistically
appropriate health promotion and disease prevention programs that
would emphasize avoiding the health risk factors for conditions
affecting minorities and incorporate an accessible, affordable, and
acceptable early detection and intervention component.
(k) Provide the state support necessary to ensure the
continued development of the existing minority health coalitions
and to develop coalitions in other areas targeted for minority
health intervention.
(l) Appoint a state funded coordinator for each of the counties
with existing minority health coalitions to provide community
planning and needs assessment assistance to the coalition and to
assist the coalition in the development of the local minority
health intervention plan through the year 2008.
(m) Appoint and assign regional consultants to serve as a
liaison between the department and the local minority health
coalition to do all of the following:
(i) Coordinate the department resources needed for the
development of local minority health coalitions.
(ii) Provide assistance to and monitor the regional consultants
in the development of local intervention plans.
(iii) Serve as the barometer to the department on the minority
health concerns of local minority health coalitions.
(iv) Assist in coordinating minority input on state health
policies and programs.
(v) Serve as the linkage between the department and local
minority health coordinators.
(vi) Monitor the progress of their compliance with this
subdivision.
(n) Provide funding, within the limits of appropriations, to
support preventative health, education, and treatment programs in
minority communities that are developed, planned, and evaluated by
approved organizations.
(o) Provide assistance to local communities to obtain funding
for the development of a health care delivery system to meet the
needs, gaps, and barriers identified in local minority health
intervention plans developed under subdivision (l).