The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Secretary, shall award grants to eligible entities to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes for populations in medically underserved communities through the use of community health workers.
Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be used to support community health workers—
(1) to educate, guide, and provide outreach in a community setting regarding health problems prevalent in medically underserved communities, particularly racial and ethnic minority populations;
(2) to educate and provide guidance regarding effective strategies to promote positive health behaviors and discourage risky health behaviors;
(3) to educate and provide outreach regarding enrollment in health insurance including the Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.], Medicare under title XVIII of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.] and Medicaid under title XIX of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.];
(4) to identify and refer underserved populations to appropriate healthcare agencies and community-based programs and organizations in order to increase access to quality healthcare services and to eliminate duplicative care; or
(5) to educate, guide, and provide home visitation services regarding maternal health and prenatal care.
Each eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that—
(1) propose to target geographic areas—
(A) with a high percentage of residents who are eligible for health insurance but are uninsured or underinsured;
(B) with a high percentage of residents who suffer from chronic diseases; or
(C) with a high infant mortality rate;
(2) have experience in providing health or health-related social services to individuals who are underserved with respect to such services; and
(3) have documented community activity and experience with community health workers.
The Secretary shall encourage community health worker programs receiving funds under this section to collaborate with academic institutions and one-stop delivery systems under section 2864(c) of title 29. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require such collaboration.
The Secretary shall encourage community health worker programs receiving funding under this section to implement a process or an outcome-based payment system that rewards community health workers for connecting underserved populations with the most appropriate services at the most appropriate time. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require such a payment.
The Secretary shall establish guidelines for assuring the quality of the training and supervision of community health workers under the programs funded under this section and for assuring the cost-effectiveness of such programs.
The Secretary shall monitor community health worker programs identified in approved applications under this section and shall determine whether such programs are in compliance with the guidelines established under subsection (g).
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to community health worker programs identified in approved applications under this section with respect to planning, developing, and operating programs under the grant.
There are authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
In this section:
The term "community health worker" means an individual who promotes health or nutrition within the community in which the individual resides—
(A) by serving as a liaison between communities and healthcare agencies;
(B) by providing guidance and social assistance to community residents;
(C) by enhancing community residents' ability to effectively communicate with healthcare providers;
(D) by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health or nutrition education;
(E) by advocating for individual and community health;
(F) by providing referral and follow-up services or otherwise coordinating care; and
(G) by proactively identifying and enrolling eligible individuals in Federal, State, local, private or nonprofit health and human services programs.
The term "community setting" means a home or a community organization located in the neighborhood in which a participant in the program under this section resides.
The term "eligible entity" means a public or nonprofit private entity (including a State or public subdivision of a State, a public health department, a free health clinic, a hospital, or a Federally-qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)])), or a consortium of any such entities.
The term "medically underserved community" means a community identified by a State—
(A) that has a substantial number of individuals who are members of a medically underserved population, as defined by section 254b(b)(3) of this title; and
(B) a significant portion of which is a health professional shortage area as designated under section 254e of this title.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399V, as added and amended Pub. L. 111–148, title V, §5313(a), title X, §10501(c), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 633, 994.)
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Last modified: October 26, 2015