HF 3630

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/10/2010 03:56pm

A bill for an act
relating to eliminating health disparities; requiring the commissioner of health to
develop new categories for collecting granular data that accurately captures race,
ethnicity, primary language, and socioeconomic status; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 145.928, subdivisions 1, 2, 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.928, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Goal; establishment.

It is the goal of the state, by 2010, to decrease
by 50 percent the disparities in infant mortality rates and adult and child immunization
rates for American Indians and populations of color, as compared with rates for whites.
To do so and to achieve other measurable outcomes, the commissioner of health shall
establish a program to close the gap in the health status of American Indians and
populations of color as compared with whites in the following priority areas: infant
mortality, breast and cervical cancer screening, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted
infections, adult and child immunizations, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, deleted text begin and deleted text end accidental
injuries and violence new text begin , and other areas identified by the commissioner in consultation with
community partners listed in subdivision 2. The program established by the commissioner
shall include the collection of granular data on race, ethnicity, country of origin, primary
language, and socioeconomic status in order to improve the effectiveness of the program
and better identify and accurately address additional health problems and health disparities
within unique cultural or ethnic subgroups new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.928, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

State-community partnerships; plan.

The commissioner, in partnership
with culturally based community organizations; new text begin the Alliance for Racial and Cultural
Health Equity; new text end the Indian Affairs Council under section 3.922; the Council on Affairs
of Chicano/Latino People under section 3.9223; the Council on Black Minnesotans
under section 3.9225; the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans under section 3.9226;
community health boards as defined in section 145A.02; and tribal governments, shall
develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated plan to reduce health disparities in
the health disparity priority areas identified in subdivision 1.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.928, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Measurable outcomes.

The commissioner, in consultation with the
community partners listed in subdivision 2, shall new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end establish measurable outcomes to achieve the goal specified in subdivision
1 and to determine the effectiveness of the grants and other activities funded under this
section in reducing health disparities in the priority areas identified in subdivision 1. The
development of measurable outcomes must be completed before any funds are distributed
under this section new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (2) develop a list of categories to be used for collecting data needed to identify
health disparities and guide efforts to reduce disparities, including additional categories
for breaking down data by race, ethnicity, country of origin, primary language, and
socioeconomic status. The list of categories shall be used by the commissioner of health,
the commissioner of human services, and other state departments, programs, and activities
relating to:
new text end

new text begin (i) collecting data;
new text end

new text begin (ii) establishing contract requirements and incentives;
new text end

new text begin (iii) awarding grants; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) public reporting on quality, access, and health disparities including, but not
limited to, sections 62U.02, subdivision 1, and 256B.072.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall develop the list with consideration of emerging national and state
standardized data classification programs new text end .