View all text of Subchapter XV [§ 300u - § 300u-16]
§ 300u–6. Office of Minority Health
(a) In general
(b) DutiesWith respect to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority groups, the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health (in this section referred to as the “Deputy Assistant Secretary”), shall carry out the following:
(1) Establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives and coordinate all other activities within the Public Health Service that relate to disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, and research concerning such individuals. The heads of each of the agencies of the Service shall consult with the Deputy Assistant Secretary to ensure the coordination of such activities.
(2) Enter into interagency agreements with other agencies of the Public Health Service.
(3) Support research, demonstrations and evaluations to test new and innovative models.
(4) Increase knowledge and understanding of health risk factors.
(5) Develop mechanisms that support better information dissemination, education, prevention, and service delivery to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including individuals who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups.
(6) Ensure that the National Center for Health Statistics collects data on the health status of each minority group.
(7) With respect to individuals who lack proficiency in speaking the English language, enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private providers of primary health services for the purpose of increasing the access of the individuals to such services by developing and carrying out programs to provide bilingual or interpretive services.
(8) Support a national minority health resource center to carry out the following:
(A) Facilitate the exchange of information regarding matters relating to health information and health promotion, preventive health services, and education in the appropriate use of health care.
(B) Facilitate access to such information.
(C) Assist in the analysis of issues and problems relating to such matters.
(D) Provide technical assistance with respect to the exchange of such information (including facilitating the development of materials for such technical assistance).
(9) Carry out programs to improve access to health care services for individuals with limited proficiency in speaking the English language. Activities under the preceding sentence shall include developing and evaluating model projects.
(10) Advise in matters related to the development, implementation, and evaluation of health professions education in decreasing disparities in health care outcomes, including cultural competency as a method of eliminating health disparities.
(c) Advisory Committee
(1) In general
(2) Duties
(3) Chair
(4) Composition
(A) The Committee shall be composed of 12 voting members appointed in accordance with subparagraph (B), and nonvoting, ex officio members designated in subparagraph (C).
(B) The voting members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government and who have expertise regarding issues of minority health. The racial and ethnic minority groups shall be equally represented among such members.
(C) The nonvoting, ex officio members of the Committee shall be such officials of the Department of Health and Human Services as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(5) Terms
(6) Vacancies
(7) Compensation
(d) Certain requirements regarding duties
(1) Recommendations regarding language
(A) Proficiency in speaking English
(B) Health professions education regarding health disparities
(2) Equitable allocation regarding activities
(3) Cultural competency of services
(e) Grants and contracts regarding duties
(1) In general
(2) Process for making awards
(3) Evaluation and dissemination
(f) Reports
(1) In general
(2) Agency reports
(g) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1) The term “racial and ethnic minority group” means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics.
(2) The term “Hispanic” means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish-speaking country.
(h) Authorization of appropriations
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XVII, § 1707, as added Pub. L. 101–527, § 2, Nov. 6, 1990, 104 Stat. 2312; amended Pub. L. 101–557, title IV, § 401(a)(1), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2770; Pub. L. 105–392, title II, § 201(a), (c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3582, 3585; Pub. L. 106–525, title IV, § 403, title VI, § 601, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2509, 2511; Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10334(a)(1), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 971.)