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

[Bill Documents]