Sec. 453. Designation of health empowerment zones
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The Secretary may, at the request of an eligible community partnership described in subsection (b)(1), designate an eligible area described in subsection (b)(2) as a health empowerment zone for the purpose of eligibility for a grant under section 455. A community partnership is eligible to submit a request under this section if the partnership— demonstrates widespread public support from key individuals and entities in the eligible area, including members of the target community, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations including national and regional intermediaries with demonstrated capacity to serve low-income urban communities, and community and industry leaders, for designation of the eligible area as a health empowerment zone; and includes representatives of— a broad cross section of stakeholders and residents from communities in the eligible area experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care; and organizations, facilities, and institutions that have a history of working within and serving such communities.
An area is eligible to be designated as a health empowerment zone under this section if one or more communities in the area experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. In determining whether a community experiences such disparities, the Secretary shall consider data collected by the Department of Health and Human Services focusing on the following areas: Access to affordable, high-quality health services. The prevalence of disproportionate rates of certain illnesses or diseases including the following:
Arthritis, osteoporosis, chronic back conditions, and other musculoskeletal diseases. Cancer. Chronic kidney disease. Diabetes. Injury (intentional and unintentional). Violence (intimate and nonintimate). Maternal and paternal illnesses and diseases. Infant mortality. Mental illness and other disabilities. Substance use disorder treatment and prevention, including underage drinking. Nutrition, obesity, and overweight conditions. Heart disease. Hypertension. Cerebrovascular disease or stroke.
Tuberculosis. HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Viral hepatitis. Asthma. Tooth decay and other oral health issues. Within the community, the historical and persistent presence of conditions that have been found to contribute to health disparities including any such conditions respecting any of the following: Poverty. Educational status and the quality of community schools. Income. Access to high-quality affordable health care. Work and work environment. Environmental conditions in the community, including with respect to clean water, clean air, and the presence or absence of pollutants.
Language and English proficiency. Access to affordable healthy food. Access to ethnically and culturally diverse health and human service providers and practitioners. Access to culturally and linguistically competent health and human services and health and human service providers. Health-supporting infrastructure. Health insurance that is adequate and affordable. Race, racism, and bigotry (conscious and unconscious). Sexual orientation. Health literacy. Place of residence (such as urban areas, rural areas, and reservations of Indian tribes).
Stress. A request under subsection
(a)shall— describe the bounds of the area to be designated as a health empowerment zone and the process used to select those bounds; demonstrate that the partnership submitting the request is an eligible community partnership described in subsection (b)(1); demonstrate that the area is an eligible area described in subsection (b)(2); include a comprehensive assessment of disparities in health status and health care experience by one or more communities in the area; set forth— a vision and a set of values for the area; and a comprehensive and holistic set of goals to be achieved in the area through designation as a health empowerment zone; and include a strategic plan and an action plan for achieving the goals described in subparagraph (E)(ii). Not later than 60 days after the receipt of a request for designation of an area as a health empowerment zone under this section, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the request. The Secretary— shall designate not more than 110 health empowerment zones under this section; and shall designate at least one health empowerment zone in each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States.