HB 723

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to community health workers; providing
3	definitions; specifying the duties and activities of
4	community health workers; creating the Community
5	Health Worker Task Force within a state college or
6	university; requiring the Department of Health to
7	provide administrative support; providing membership
8	of the task force; providing duties of the task force;
9	requiring the members of the task force to elect a
10	chairperson; providing that task force members serve
11	without compensation and are not entitled to
12	reimbursement for per diem or travel expenses;
13	requiring that the task force meet at least quarterly;
14	specifying the number of members required for a
15	quorum; requiring the task force to submit a report to
16	the Governor and Legislature by a specified date;
17	providing an effective date.
18
19	WHEREAS, Florida faces a number of challenges in providing
20	access to health care services in both urban and rural areas
21	which impair the health and well-being of state residents, and
22	WHEREAS, Florida continues to experience critical shortages
23	of providers in primary health care, oral health care, and
24	behavioral health care, particularly in rural and inner-city
25	areas, and
26	WHEREAS, there is substantial evidence that comprehensive
27	coordination of care for individuals who have chronic diseases
28	and the provision of information regarding preventive care can
29	improve individual health, create a healthier population, reduce
30	the costs of health care, and increase appropriate access to
31	health care, and
32	WHEREAS, community health workers, also known as
33	"promotoras," and community health representatives, hereinafter
34	collectively referred to as "community health workers," have
35	demonstrated success in increasing access to health care in
36	underserved communities, providing culturally appropriate
37	education regarding prevention and disease management, providing
38	translating and interpreting services for health care
39	encounters, improving health outcomes through the coordination
40	of care, increasing individual health care literacy and
41	advocacy, and organizing to improve the health care of medically
42	underserved communities, while reducing costs in the state's
43	health care system, and
44	WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that community health
45	workers are important members of the health care delivery system
46	in this state, and the Florida Health Worker Coalition has begun
47	to explore options that would allow community health workers to
48	be part of an integrated health delivery team, NOW, THEREFORE,
49
50	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
51
52	Section 1.  Community health workers.-
53	(1)  As used in this section, the term:
54	(a)  "Community health worker" means a front-line health
55	care worker who is a trusted member of or has an unusually close
56	understanding of the community that he or she serves.
57	(b)  "Department" means the Department of Health.
58	(c)  "Medically underserved community" means a geographic
59	area that has a shortage of health professionals as defined by
60	federal regulations and has a substantial number of persons who
61	lack public or private health insurance, are unable to pay for
62	care, and have incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal
63	poverty level.
64	(d)  "Task force" means the Community Health Worker Task
65	Force established by the department under this section.
66	(2)(a)  A community health worker serves as a liaison,
67	link, or intermediary between health care services, social
68	services, and the community in order to facilitate access to
69	health care services and improve the quality of health care
70	services and the cultural competency of health care providers.
71	(b)  A community health worker performs the following
72	activities in a community setting:
73	1.  Provides information on available resources;
74	2.  Provides social support and informal counseling;
75	3.  Advocates for individuals and their health care needs;
76	and
77	4.  Provides services, such as first aid and blood pressure
78	screening.
79	(c)  A community health worker also builds individual and
80	community capacity by increasing knowledge in wellness and
81	disease prevention and self-sufficiency through a range of
82	activities, such as community outreach, community education,
83	informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
84	(d)  A community health worker also collects data to help
85	identify health care needs in a medically underserved community
86	by:
87	1.  Serving as a liaison between the community and health
88	care providers.
89	2.  Providing guidance and social assistance to residents.
90	3.  Enhancing the communication skills of residents in
91	order to assist them in effectively communicating with health
92	care providers.
93	4.  Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate
94	health or nutrition education.
95	5.  Advocating for better individual and community health,
96	including oral health, mental health, and nutritional needs.
97	6.  Providing referral services, followup services, and
98	coordination of care.
99	(3)(a)  The department shall establish the Community Health
100	Worker Task Force within a state college or university. The
101	department shall provide administrative support and services to
102	the task force to the extent requested by the chairperson of the
103	task force and within available resources of the department.
104	(b)  The task force shall consist of the following 12
105	members:
106	1.  One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of
107	the Senate.
108	2.  One member of the House of Representatives, appointed
109	by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
110	3.  One state official, appointed by the Governor.
111	4.  Six community health workers, appointed by the State
112	Surgeon General.
113	5.  Three representatives of the Florida Community Health
114	Worker Coalition, appointed by the chair of the Florida
115	Community Health Worker Coalition.
116	(c)  The task force shall develop recommendations for:
117	1.  Including community health workers in the development
118	of proposals for health care or Medicaid reform in this state as
119	part of the outreach efforts for enrolling residents of this
120	state in Medicaid managed care programs or other health care
121	delivery services.
122	2.  Including community health workers in providing
123	assistance to residents in navigating the health care system and
124	providing information and guidance regarding preventive health
125	care.
126	3.  Providing support to community health centers and other
127	safety net providers through the integration of community health
128	workers as part of health care delivery teams.
129	(d)  The task force shall also collaborate with the Florida
130	Community Health Worker Coalition, colleges and universities in
131	this state, and other organizations and institutions to
132	recommend a process that leads to the standardization of
133	qualifications and skills of community health workers who are
134	employed in state-supported health care programs.
135	(e)  The members of the task force shall elect a
136	chairperson and vice chairperson.
137	(f)  Members of the task force shall serve without
138	compensation, and are not entitled to reimbursement for per diem
139	and travel expenses.
140	(g)  The task force shall meet at least quarterly and at
141	other times at the call of the chairperson, or as determined by
142	a majority of members.
143	(h)  A quorum shall consist of seven members, and the
144	concurring vote of a majority of the members present is required
145	for final action.
146	(i)  The task force shall submit a report by June 30, 2013,
147	to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
148	the House of Representatives, stating the findings, conclusions,
149	and recommendations of the task force.
150	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.