Requires cultural awareness and competence training for all medical professionals as part of their licensing requirements; public ed program; appropriation

Section 2. Amends the Public Health Law, section 2805-k (1) (f). Requires physicians, dentists or podiatrists to document the completion of cultural awareness and competency training. Prohibits hospitals or facilities from granting or renewing professional privileges if such medical professional has not completed the required training.

Section 3. Amends the Public Health Law section 206 of by adding a new subdivision 29. Authorizes the Commissioner of Health to develop and implement a statewide, community-based public health education program to reduce disparities in minority health care.

Section 4. Appropriation

Section 5. Effective Date

Existing law

None

Justification

The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the U S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) reports that:

o Even though the Nation's infant mortality rate is down, the infant death rate among African Americans is still more than double that of whites;

o Hispanics living in the United States are almost twice as likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic whites; and,

o American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from diabetes at more than twice the rate of whites.

According to the New York State Department of Health "Health disparities are deep and pervasive in New York State, as they are in almost every state in the nation. Some racial and ethnic minority groups, people with low incomes and/or language barriers, people who live in underserved communities, and many others have poorer health from birth (e.g., infant mortality) to death (e.g., premature deaths). Across the lifespan, they suffer higher rates of disease and disability. And these problems begin early, adding to the erosion of opportunity for children who often face a constellation of other social and economic challenges. As a result, disparities have a devastating human and economic impact on the state."

Health Disparities in New York City: Minding the Gap (2010 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) reported that:

o Death rates are almost 30% higher in the poorest New York City neighborhoods than in wealthier neighborhoods

o Blacks and whites in the poorest neighborhoods die at higher rates than their counterparts living in richer neighborhoods

o Black, Hispanic and Asian New Yorkers are more likely to die prematurely than whites, regardless of neighborhood income

o Gaps in death rates between blacks and whites vary by cause of death and neighborhood income

Evidence suggests that a more culturally competent health workforce is one way to address problems associated with health care disparities by improving access to care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality likewise reported "that a lack of attention to cultural issues reacts to less than optimal care and addressing these concerns or using certain cultural competence interventions leads to improved outcomes." Washington, New Jersey, California are among the states that currently require cultural awareness and competency training for its healthcare workforce.

This bill addresses the problems associated with health care disparities by requiring medical professionals to complete required course work in cultural awareness and competency training as part of their licensing requirements.

Legislative history

2014: S.793A - Amend and Recommit to Finance/A.2417A - Amend and Recommit to Higher Education 2013: S.793 - Referred to Finance/A.2417 - Referred to Higher Education 2012: S.118-A-Amended and recommit to Health/ A.1434 - A- Amended and recommit to Higher Education 2011: S.118 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Committee Discharged and Committed to Health/A.1434 - Referred to Higher Education 2009-10: S.3129 - Referred to Higher Education/A.8843 - Referred to Higher Education 2007-08: S.765 - Referred to Finance

Fiscal implications

$100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be appropriated from the state treasury.

Local fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.