[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2799 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2799

 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an 
            Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 2023

Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an 
            Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. CDC OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
shall establish within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
an office to be known as the Office of Rural Health, to be headed by a 
director selected by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
    (b) Duties and Authorities.--The duties and authorities of the 
Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be limited to the 
following:
            (1) Serving as the primary point of contact in the Centers 
        for Disease Control and Prevention on matters pertaining to 
        rural health.
            (2) Assisting the Director of the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention in conducting, coordinating, and 
        promoting research regarding public health issues affecting 
        rural populations, and in disseminating the results of such 
        research.
            (3) Working with all personnel and offices of the Centers 
        for Disease Control and Prevention to develop, refine, 
        coordinate, and promulgate policies, best practices, lessons 
        learned, and innovative, successful programs to improve care 
        and services (including through telehealth) for rural 
        populations.
            (4) Coordinating and supporting rural health research, 
        conducting and supporting educational outreach, and 
        disseminating evidence-based interventions related to health 
        outcomes, access to health care, and lifestyle challenges, to 
        prevent death, disease, injury, and disability, and promote 
        healthy behaviors in rural populations.
            (5) Improving the understanding of the health challenges 
        faced by rural populations.
            (6) Identifying disparities in the availability of health 
        care and public health interventions for rural populations.
            (7) Awarding and administering grants, cooperative 
        agreements, and contracts to provide technical assistance and 
        other activities as necessary to support activities related to 
        improving health and health care in rural areas.
            (8) Coordinating with the Federal Office of Rural Health 
        Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, as 
        needed, to facilitate cooperation on rural health initiatives 
        and avoid duplication of efforts.
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