REACH Act

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for racial and ethnic approaches to community health. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the REACH Act 2. Racial and ethnic approaches to community health Title XVII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300u 1712. Racial and ethnic approaches to community health (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the conduct of evidence-based and evidence-informed projects to improve health, prevent and manage chronic health conditions, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations. (b) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive an award under this section, an entity shall— (1) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require; (2) demonstrate a history of successfully working with an established community-based coalition to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations; (3) conduct or identify a community health needs assessment to inform locally tailored activities conducted under subsection (a); and (4) demonstrate the capacity to effectively and immediately implement evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations. (c) Use of funds An entity shall use funds received under subsection (a), in coordination with State, local, and Tribal health departments, community-based organizations, and other entities with experience addressing racial and ethnic health disparities, to— (1) increase the workforce of health care and public health professionals from underrepresented populations; (2) support the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of locally tailored strategies to prevent and manage chronic health conditions, including by reducing tobacco use, improving nutrition and physical activity, and addressing social and other determinants of health; and (3) enhance capacity, as appropriate, to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks through outreach, education, and other relevant activities. (d) Report Not later than September 30, 2024, and every five years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report that includes information on activities funded under this section. Such report shall include a description of— (1) efforts to increase the workforce of health care and public health professionals from underrepresented populations; (2) the prevalence of chronic health conditions among populations served under this section, including a description of reductions in chronic health conditions among such populations; and (3) activities conducted to enhance capacity to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks among racial and ethnic minority populations. (e) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. .

Summary: REACH Act This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve health, prevent and manage chronic health conditions, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations. Specifically, HHS, in consultation with the Office of Minority Health, must award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, entities that demonstrate relevant experience in, and capacity for, working with such populations. Recipients must use funds for increasing diversity in the public health and health care workforce, enhancing capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, and implementing health improvement efforts.