Sec. 5. Grant program for public awareness campaigns to address health disparities
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/bill/116/hr/8203/ih/section-5A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with the Office of Minority Health, and, as appropriate, in coordination with the relevant Offices of Minority Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Indian Health Service, shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to support such entities in developing and implementing accessible, multilingual, and culturally competent public awareness campaigns about COVID–19 directed at racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations that have experienced health disparities during the COVID–19 public health emergency related to testing, infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a State, local, Tribal, or territorial health department, a nonprofit community-based organization, a Tribal organization, an urban Indian organization, or a health care provider, or a nonprofit faith-based organization. When awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize entities serving communities where the greatest health disparities exist with respect to testing access, infections, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID–19, impacting racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations.
An entity awarded a grant under this section shall conduct a public awareness campaign that— provides to the public information, based on scientific evidence, about the benefits of being tested for COVID–19, the availability of COVID–19 testing with no cost-sharing for most United States residents, and the actions that individuals can take to protect themselves from COVID–19, including masking and social distancing; and dispels misinformation about COVID–19 symptoms, testing, or treatment; uses print, radio, or internet media, or other forms of public communication; and communicates in the language or languages necessary to reach racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations in the applicable region that have experienced health disparities during the COVID–19 public health emergency related to testing, infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths.
The public health campaigns supported by grants awarded under this section shall be complementary to, and coordinated with, any other Federal, State, or local efforts, including the action plan described in section 3, as appropriate. The Secretary shall award the grants under this section not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.