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S.B. 85

             1     

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill directs the Bureau of Health Promotion in the Department of Health to
             10      promote the use of community health workers.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    directs the Bureau of Health Promotion to:
             15              .    promote the use of community health workers in medically underserved
             16      communities;
             17              .    develop programs to educate community members on available health systems
             18      and reduce dependence on emergency rooms for primary and routine care;
             19              .    create an advisory board to receive public input, to shape implementation, and
             20      to address sustainability; and
             21              .    report annually to the Legislature;
             22          .    establishes a pilot program for the placement of community health workers in
             23      medically underserved populations via grants distributed by the bureau to selected
             24      applicants;
             25          .    grants rulemaking authority to the bureau concerning the management of the
             26      program; and
             27          .    enables the bureau to seek funding from available funding sources for the purpose


             28      of managing the program.
             29      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             30          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2014:
             31          .    to the Department of Health - Disease Control and Prevention, as an ongoing
             32      appropriation:
             33              .    from the General Fund, $250,000.
             34      Other Special Clauses:
             35          None
             36      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             37      ENACTS:
             38          26-7-7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 26-7-7 is enacted to read:
             42          26-7-7. Registered Community Heath Worker Pilot Program.
             43          (1) As used in this section:
             44          (a) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Health Promotion within the Department of Health.
             45          (b) "Community health worker" means a person who:
             46          (i) is a trusted member and has a close understanding of the socioeconomic status, race,
             47      ethnicity, and language of a medically underserved community;
             48          (ii) instructs individuals regarding the timely and appropriate use of health care
             49      services;
             50          (iii) promotes health knowledge and self-sufficiency through outreach, community
             51      education, informal counseling, and social support; and
             52          (iv) collects data identifying community health needs.
             53          (c) "Medically underserved population" is as defined in Section 26-10b-102 .
             54          (2) The bureau shall:
             55          (a) promote the use of community health workers to help individuals and communities
             56      to develop and maintain healthy behaviors;
             57          (b) establish education programs, using community health workers, with a focus on:
             58          (i) reducing community dependence on emergency rooms for primary and routine care;


             59      and
             60          (ii) instructing community members on the appropriate use of available health systems
             61      and insurance options;
             62          (c) create an advisory board, comprised of community health workers and
             63      representatives from public and private sector organizations that use community health
             64      workers, to advise the bureau regarding:
             65          (i) the continued improvement of community health through the placement and use of
             66      community health workers;
             67          (ii) new methods, tools, and partnerships to engage community members in managing
             68      their own health; and
             69          (iii) ongoing funding opportunities for the development of programs using community
             70      health workers;
             71          (d) collect and measure data relating to the cost effectiveness of community health
             72      worker initiatives; and
             73          (e) annually report to the Legislature on its activities and accomplishments.
             74          (3) Within appropriations specified by the Legislature for the purposes under
             75      Subsection (2)(a), and funds available under Subsection (9), the bureau shall:
             76          (a) implement a program for the placement of community health workers; and
             77          (b) award grants to public and nonprofit entities to use community health workers in
             78      medically underserved populations.
             79          (4) The bureau shall award grants based upon:
             80          (a) applications submitted to the bureau in the manner and form prescribed by the
             81      bureau; and
             82          (b) the criteria established in Subsection (6).
             83          (5) The application for a grant under Subsection (3) shall contain:
             84          (a) a budget;
             85          (b) a statement of specific, measurable objectives that can be obtained through the
             86      placement of a community health worker and the methods to be used to assess the achievement
             87      of those objectives;
             88          (c) the precise boundaries of the area to be served by the entity making the application,
             89      including a description of the medically underserved population to be served by the grant


             90      enabling the placement of a community health worker;
             91          (d) the results of an assessment of need demonstrating that the population to be served
             92      has a need for a community health worker that will be working with the applicant; and
             93          (e) other provisions as determined by the bureau.
             94          (6) When awarding a grant for the placement of a community health worker under this
             95      chapter, the bureau shall consider the extent to which the applicant:
             96          (a) demonstrates that the area or a population group to be served under the application
             97      is a medically underserved population and that the applicant, working with the community
             98      health worker, will provide assistance to the greatest number of persons residing in the area or
             99      included in the population group;
             100          (b) utilizes other sources of funding, including private funding, to develop community
             101      health-focused programs in keeping with the duties of a community health worker;
             102          (c) demonstrates the ability and expertise to serve traditionally medically underserved
             103      populations including single heads of households, the elderly, persons with low incomes,
             104      persons with limited English proficiency, and persons with chronic diseases; and
             105          (d) meets other criteria determined by the department.
             106          (7) As funding permits, the bureau shall award grants to selected applicants in amounts
             107      not to exceed $50,000 to each selected applicant.
             108          (8) The bureau shall establish rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             109      Administrative Rulemaking Act, governing the application form, process, and criteria used in
             110      awarding grants under this chapter.
             111          (9) In addition to the funds appropriated by the Legislature, the bureau may seek
             112      federal and other funding to assist in fulfilling the purposes of this section, from public and
             113      private sources, including:
             114          (a) grants;
             115          (b) federal Medicaid matching funds;
             116          (c) private, nonprofit organizations; and
             117          (d) resources allocated to risk-based delivery models under Section 26-18-405 to
             118      increase access to primary care.
             119          Section 2. Appropriation.
             120          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for


             121      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2014, the following sums of money
             122      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
             123      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
             124      addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2014.
             125          To Department of Health - Disease Control and Prevention
             126          From General Fund                                $250,000
             127          Schedules of programs
             128          Department of Health - Disease Control and Prevention    $250,000
             129          The Legislature intends that:
             130          (1) the Bureau of Health Promotion use the appropriation under this section to
             131      establish a program for the placement of community health workers in medically underserved
             132      communities under Section 26-7-7 ; and
             133          (2) the appropriations under this section be ongoing.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-25-13 1:43 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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