I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3257
To provide for a study to determine the extent to which health professions
schools provide adequate education to students on women’s health conditions.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 12, 1993
Mrs. LOWEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To provide for a study to determine the extent to which
health professions schools provide adequate education to
students on women’s health conditions.
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 ‘‘Equity in Health Pro-
fessions Education Act’’.
SEC. 2. STUDY REGARDING CURRICULA OF HEALTH PRO-
FESSIONS SCHOOLS AND WOMEN’S HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the
Health Resources and Services Administration, shall con-
duct a study for the purpose of determining the extent
to which health professions schools provide adequate edu-
cation to students on women’s health conditions. The Sec-
retary shall give priority in the study to schools of medi-
cine and osteopathic medicine.
(b) CONSULTATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out
subsection (a) in consultation with the Director of the Of-
fice of Research on Women’s Health and the Director of
the Office of Women’s Health.
(c) CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting
the study under subsection (a), the Secretary—
(1) shall assess the content of the educational
programs of health professions schools with respect
to women’s health conditions, including the content
of programs providing clinical training; and
(2) shall, if the Secretary determines that the
extent of education on such conditions is inadequate,
determine the extent to which such inadequacy is af-
fecting the health of women.
(d) COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE ENTITIES.—In carrying out subsection (a),
the Secretary shall consider the comments and rec-
ommendations of public and private entities regarding the
study under such subsection, including representatives of
health professions schools and representatives of organiza-
tions concerned with women’s health conditions.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than April 1, 1995, the Sec-
retary shall complete the study required in subsection (a)
and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and
Human Resources and the Committee on Appropriations
of the Senate, a report describing the findings made as
a result of the study and containing any recommendations
of the Secretary regarding such findings, including rec-
ommendations regarding the accreditation of health pro-
fessions schools and the licensure of health professionals.
(f) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
(1) The term ‘‘health professions schools’’
means—
(A) the schools and programs defined in
section 799(1) of the Public Health Service Act
(other than schools of veterinary medicine); and
(B) schools of nursing, as defined in sec-
tion 853 of such Act.
(2) The term ‘‘Office of Research on Women’s
Health’’ means the Office of Research on Women’s
Health established within the Office of the Director
of the National Institutes of Health.
(3) The term ‘‘Office of Women’s Health’’
means the Office of Women’s Health established
within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health.
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(5) The term ‘‘women’s health conditions’’ has
the meaning given such term in section 486 of the
Public Health Service Act.
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