I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3119
To establish a coordinated strategy of health promotion and disease prevention
activities through the Public Health Service.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 22, 1993
Mrs. LLOYD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To establish a coordinated strategy of health promotion and
disease prevention activities through the Public Health
Service.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Health Infor-
mation 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 infor-
mation is distributed to the public.
(3) Health information activities of the Depart-
ment 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 COMMU-
NICATIONS.
(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 Serv-
ices on developing, overseeing, and coordinating Fed-
eral promotion and education activities, including
such activities within the Public Health Service.
(2) WOMEN’S HEALTH.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Committee shall give priority to car-
rying 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 representa-
tive 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 ei-
ther 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 recommenda-
tions and objectives to improve women’s health.
(e) MEETINGS.—
(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 concern-
ing 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 publica-
tions as needed.
(2) FEES REGARDING TOLL-FREE HOTLINE.—
The Clearinghouse may, as necessary, charge an ap-
propriate 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 profes-
sionals 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 COMMU-
NICATIONS.
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.
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