Women's Health Information Act of 1993

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Health Information Act of 
1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) A report by the General Accounting Office indicates 
        that the Department and Health and Human Services, which is 
        responsible for providing health information to the public, 
        lacks an overall strategy for providing such information to 
        women.
            (2) Such Department has no overall strategy to ensure that 
        the most needed and useful health information is distributed to 
        the public.
            (3) Health information activities of the Department are 
        left to the discretion of the agencies of the Public Health 
        Service, each of which largely plans the production and 
        dissemination of information independently of the other 
        agencies of the Service.
            (4) Even when health information for the public is produced 
        and disseminated by the Department, it is not always easily 
        accessible to the public.
            (5) With respect to health information, the agencies of 
        such Department cannot determine whether the efforts of the 
        agencies are appropriately targeted to raise women's awareness 
        and increase their knowledge about conditions that confront 
        them.

SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
establish an Interagency Committee on Health Communications (in this 
section referred to as the ``Committee'').
    (b) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee shall provide advice to the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services on developing, 
        overseeing, and coordinating Federal promotion and education 
        activities, including such activities within the Public Health 
        Service.
            (2) Women's health.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Committee shall give priority to carrying activities regarding 
        women's health.
    (c) Chair.--The Committee shall be chaired by the Assistant 
Secretary for Health.
    (d) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Committee 
        shall be composed of one representative from each agency with 
        authority to speak for the agency, in order to address 
        activities and goal-setting with regard to communications 
        specific to women's health. Decisions shall be implemented 
        either individually or collectively as required.
            (2) Women's health.--The Director of the Office of Women's 
        Health at the Public Health Service shall serve as a member of 
        the Committee to ensure that the efforts of the Committee and 
        the Public Health Service reflect pertinent recommendations and 
        objectives to improve women's health.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee shall, as appropriate, meet 
        not fewer than 4 times a year in order to promote 
        collaboration, enhance cooperation, and develop effective 
        strategies in this effort.
            (2) Annual forum.--The Assistant Secretary for Health shall 
        convene a forum once a year to hear testimony by interested 
        public and private individuals and organizations regarding 
        priorities for areas of women's health, and shall respond to 
        the testimony and make recommendations regarding the testimony.
    (f) Report.--The Assistant Secretary of Health shall issue a yearly 
report on the progress of the Committee's efforts to establish a 
coordinated strategy of health promotion and disease prevention 
activities at the Public Health Service.

SEC. 4. DISSEMINATION EFFORTS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH INFORMATION WITHIN 
              PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.

    (a) Clearinghouse on Women's Health.--The Assistant Secretary for 
Health shall establish the Clearinghouse on Women's Health to compile, 
archive, and disseminate information concerning women's health and to 
publish a yearly summary of such materials to be made available upon 
request.
    (b) Other Activities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        may make a grant, or enter into a contract with one or more 
        organizations representing women--
                    (A) to make available information concerning 
                Federal programs, services, informational resources, 
                and benefits related to women's health;
                    (B) establish a toll-free hotline; and
                    (C) assess demand for publications and costs on an 
                annual basis, and develop publications as needed.
            (2) Fees regarding toll-free hotline.--The Clearinghouse 
        may, as necessary, charge an appropriate fee for information 
        provided by the toll-free hotline. Exceptions shall be made for 
        individuals or organizations that are financially unable to pay 
        such fees.
    (c) Advertising Campaign.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall conduct an outreach and advertising campaign to women 
and health professionals regarding the existence of the clearinghouse 
and the toll-free number.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994 through 1999.

SEC. 5. STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall convene a study of 
the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to evaluate the overall 
effectiveness of health communications, including the efficacy of 
existing policies and techniques utilized by the Public Health Service 
to develop and disseminate such information. The study shall involve 
evaluation of effort, mode, use of toll-free numbers, and assessment of 
organization and competency. The study shall also include an analysis 
of efforts regarding reaching underserved populations. The Agency for 
Health Care Policy and Research shall make recommendations to the 
Assistant Secretary for Health on the most effective strategy for 
reaching the public and presenting health communications.

Summary: Women's Health Information Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Interagency Committee on Health Communications to provide advice to the Secretary on developing, overseeing, and coordinating Federal health promotion and education activities, including such activities within the Public Health Service. Requires the Committee to give priority to activities concerning women's health. Provides for the establishment of a Clearinghouse on Women's Health to compile and disseminate information concerning women's health.