1.This Act may be cited as
the Latina Health Access
Act
.
2.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.
3.Health access
for uninsured and low-income individualsThe Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<enum>XXIX</enum><header>Health access
for uninsured and low-income individuals</header>
<section id="id474D5DF6857249AFBC8654885FF2EC12"><enum>2901.</enum><header>Health care
access for preventable health problems</header>
<subsection id="idAB93C5918151416AB3205D24E9EC3455"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
eligible entity</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible
entity</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="id60CA43F44BFF46B0BFC5EA3CF01BDDE4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1B480FB43AC143A6A410A64244CBB5C6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a State or local
government; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1C4FFD27FA314F46B1A5C43711C40D83"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a private
nonprofit entity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4B44D372FBAA462CB81C68646391C362"><enum>(b)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4FDAF0F5CD0648198C10A397F9512364"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><text>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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDa9c3bcde19304b199e18a8339ab13a43"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorized
activities</header><text>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—</text>
<paragraph id="idA60F3B33A63244B8B7DCED6403497893"><enum>(1)</enum><text>family planning
services and information;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5C74AF907AD14DECB9F14B62D6BC6230"><enum>(2)</enum><text>prenatal and
postnatal care; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE224306A7E5B44A28A58BDCE7F22BBA0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assistance and
services with respect to asthma, cancer, HIV disease and AIDS, sexually
transmitted diseases, mental health, diabetes, and heart disease.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA86715B667A84225B9A3801A9FF70B65"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and each succeeding
fiscal year.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID669ff55847884fe9b5b497bb47bbc8a1"><enum>2902.</enum><header>Focus on
uninsured and low-income populations</header>
<subsection id="idE2E5856162464E5E95A2C93BAF0711CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prioritizing
health grants To increase funding equity</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<paragraph id="id342AC69B3F6A42438CF61BC6BA2BC2AC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">represent medically underserved areas or
populations with a large number of uninsured and low-income individuals;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD8AC361BB8E14F39AEDCF0B18DE19075"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">otherwise meet all requirements for the
grant or assistance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID25f4de93c1f8451cacfb81faa90b7d86"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research
benefitting populations with a lack of health data</header>
<paragraph id="idD4710391084E4134B4241F0F9A63EDFA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header><text>From amounts appropriated under paragraph (3) for a
fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to research institutions in order
to enable the institutions—</text>
<subparagraph id="id8ED03330C2F242509407D90DA66D1403"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to conduct
research on the health status of populations for which there is an absence of
health data, such as the Latina population; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1A3088D623E44B2EB72602A4464F6E7A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id537384966D214C01AE49EAF64A53EF82"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application</header><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id96E2B1686D2045ABBDCD775C91318A6A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID3e4abdf8496b4838af4d1eeb66b091c9"><enum>2903.</enum><header>Education and
outreach</header>
<subsection id="id75A71C015B0F40C09DED363E9B8AC265"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Joint effort
for health outcomes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEDB0F2B4434A4A91A0FC5ADAB240E929"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Targeted health
education programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD948D91E2F3647728B111436F24CD828"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and each succeeding
fiscal
year.</text>
</subsection></section>.