[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3965 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3965

 To address the serious health care access barriers, and consequently 
  higher incidences of disease, for low-income, uninsured populations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 28, 2006

  Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To address the serious health care access barriers, and consequently 
  higher incidences of disease, for low-income, uninsured populations.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Latina Health Access Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) As of 2006, there are 18,000,000 Latinas residing in 
        the United States. The number of Latinas is expected to grow 
        considerably. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 1 out of 
        every 4 women in the United States will be a Latina.
            (2) Latinas are particularly at risk for being uninsured. 
        37 percent of Latinas are uninsured, almost double the national 
        average.
            (3) With respect to sexually transmitted diseases--
                    (A) the HIV infection rate is 7 times more for 
                Latinas than their white counterparts, and Latinas 
                represent 18 percent of new HIV infections among women;
                    (B) the AIDS case rate for Latinas is more than 5 
                times more than the rate for white women;
                    (C) the rate of chlamydia for Latinas is 4 times 
                more than the rate for white women; and
                    (D) among Latinas, the gonorrhea incidence is 
                nearly double that of white women.
            (4) With respect to cancer--
                    (A) The national incidence rate for cervical cancer 
                in Latinas over the age of 30 is nearly double that of 
                non-Latinas;
                    (B) 1 in 12 Latinas nationwide will develop breast 
                cancer; and
                    (C) while white women have the highest rates of 
                breast cancer, Latinas have among the lowest rates of 
                breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment and, 
                as a result, are more likely to die from breast cancer 
                compared to white women.
            (5) The prevalence of diabetes is at least 2 to 4 times 
        more among Latinas than among white women. More than 25 percent 
        of Latinas aged 65 to 74 have Type II diabetes.
            (6) Heart disease is the main cause of death for all women, 
        and heart disease risk and death rates are higher among Latinas 
        partly because of higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
            (7) Therefore, despite their growing numbers, Latinas 
        continue to face serious health concerns (including sexually 
        transmitted diseases, diabetes, and cancer) that are otherwise 
        preventable, or treatable, with adequate health access.

SEC. 3. HEALTH ACCESS FOR UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

    The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

  ``TITLE XXIX--HEALTH ACCESS FOR UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS

``SEC. 2901. HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR PREVENTABLE HEALTH PROBLEMS.

    ``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means--
            ``(1) a high-performing hospital or community health center 
        that serves medically underserved areas with large numbers of 
        uninsured and low-income individuals, such as Latina 
        populations;
            ``(2) a State or local government; or
            ``(3) a private nonprofit entity.
    ``(b) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities to enable the eligible entities to provide programs and 
activities that provide health care services to uninsured and low-
income individuals in medically underserved areas.
    ``(c) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    ``(d) Authorized Activities.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
under this section shall use grant funds to carry out programs and 
activities that provide access to care for a full spectrum of 
preventable and treatable health care problems in a culturally and 
linguistically appropriate manner, including--
            ``(1) family planning services and information;
            ``(2) prenatal and postnatal care; and
            ``(3) assistance and services with respect to asthma, 
        cancer, HIV disease and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, 
        mental health, diabetes, and heart disease.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and each succeeding fiscal year.

``SEC. 2902. FOCUS ON UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS.

    ``(a) Prioritizing Health Grants To Increase Funding Equity.--In 
order to create a more diverse movement, cultivate new leaders, and 
address health issues within medically underserved areas, the Secretary 
shall, in awarding grants and other assistance under this Act, reserve 
a portion of the grants and assistance for entities that--
            ``(1) represent medically underserved areas or populations 
        with a large number of uninsured and low-income individuals; 
        and
            ``(2) otherwise meet all requirements for the grant or 
        assistance.
    ``(b) Research Benefitting Populations With a Lack of Health 
Data.--
            ``(1) Grants authorized.--From amounts appropriated under 
        paragraph (3) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award 
        grants to research institutions in order to enable the 
        institutions--
                    ``(A) to conduct research on the health status of 
                populations for which there is an absence of health 
                data, such as the Latina population; or
                    ``(B) to work with organizations that focus on 
                populations for which there is an absence of health 
                data, such as the Latina population, on developing 
                participatory community-based research methods.
            ``(2) Application.--A research institution desiring a grant 
        under this subsection shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $18,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2007 and each of the succeeding fiscal years.

``SEC. 2903. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

    ``(a) Joint Effort for Health Outcomes.--In order to improve health 
outcomes for uninsured and low-income individuals, the Secretary shall, 
through a joint effort with health care professionals, health 
advocates, and community-based organizations in medically underserved 
areas, provide outreach, education, and delivery of comprehensive 
health services to uninsured and low-income individuals in a culturally 
competent manner.
    ``(b) Targeted Health Education Programs.--The Secretary shall 
carry out a health education program targeted specifically to 
populations of uninsured and low-income individuals, including the 
Latina population, through community centered informational forums, 
public service announcements, and media campaigns.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
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