Preventive Care Awareness Act of 2021

To provide for a national public health education campaign, grant program, and task force for recommended preventive health care services during the COVID–19 pandemic and future pandemics. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventive Care Awareness Act of 2021 2. Public health campaign The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary 3. COVID–19 preventive health care grant program (a) In general For the purpose of increasing patient uptake of recommended clinical preventive health care services during the COVID–19 pandemic, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants on a noncompetitive basis to States, localities, territories, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, and health service providers to Indian Tribes, with particular consideration for decreasing disparities in utilization of such preventive health care services by reaching individuals in geographically diverse rural and underserved communities who have delayed or forgone receiving recommended clinical preventive health care services during the COVID–19 pandemic. (b) Guidance The Secretary shall issue grant guidance on the administration of the grant program under paragraph (1), including with respect to permitted uses of funds and eligibility requirements. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 and 2023. 4. Task force on preventive health care during public health emergencies (a) Task force on preventive health care in response to the COVID–19 public health emergency (1) Establishment The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary (2) Duties The task force established under paragraph (1) shall develop, publicly post, and update Federal recommendations in multiple languages to promote preventive health care visits and improve health outcomes during and after the COVID–19 pandemic and during future pandemics, with particular consideration for outcomes of rural or underserved communities. Such recommendations shall— (A) address, with particular attention to ensuring equitable services, reducing disparities in health outcomes, and promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate care— (i) measures to facilitate preventive health care; (ii) strategies to increase access to care for individuals at high risk or with elevated risk factors; (iii) how to identify, address, and treat mental and behavioral health conditions, such as anxiety, substance use disorder, and depression, which may have arisen or increased during the COVID–19 pandemic; (iv) strategies to address provision of preventative health care services given hospital capacity concerns in communities with a surge in COVID–19 cases and to provide individuals with options that reduce potential for cross-contamination, lessen disruption to providing common health services and preventive health care, and increase the ability to implement patient care preferences while maintaining safety and quality; and (v) such other matters as the task force determines appropriate; (B) identify barriers to the implementation of the recommendations; (C) take into consideration existing State programs and other programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in promoting preventive health care during the COVID–19 pandemic, for purposes of future public health emergencies; and (D) identify policies specific to COVID–19 that, as a public health emergency abates, can be safely discontinued when appropriate or necessary, as well as policies that should be continued. (3) Membership The task force established under paragraph (1) shall be comprised of the following: (A) One representative of each of the following: (i) The Secretary of Health and Human Services. (ii) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (iii) The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. (iv) The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (v) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (vi) The Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (vii) The Director of the Indian Health Service. (viii) The Director of the Office of Minority Health. (ix) The Director of the Office on Women’s Health. (x) The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. (B) Such other members as the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines appropriate.

Summary: Preventive Care Awareness Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promote the use of preventive health care services. In particular, HHS must focus on decreasing disparities in accessing preventive services for individuals in rural and underserved communities who delayed or forewent recommended preventive services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, HHS must carry out a campaign to increase public awareness about and use of recommended preventive services. HHS must also convene a task force to develop recommendations regarding preventive services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics. The recommendations must address, among other considerations, reducing disparities in health outcomes and identifying barriers to implementing the recommendations. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide grants to states, tribes and providers of tribal health services, territories, and localities for increasing patient uptake of recommended preventive services.