Preventive Health Amendments of 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Breast and Cervical Cancer

Title II: Injury Prevention and Control

Title III: Tuberculosis

Title IV: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Title V: National Center for Health Statistics

Title VI: Trauma Care Systems

Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions

Preventive Health Amendments of 1993 - Title I: Breast and Cervical Cancer - Revises provisions of the Public Health Service Act (the Act) authorizing grants for breast and cervical cancer preventive health measures to allow States to make contracts with private, for-profit entities, provided that the amount paid does not exceed that which would be paid under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in making such grants to States whose initial grants are made for FY 1995 or any subsequent fiscal year, to give special consideration to a State whose proposal: (1) has been approved through a peer review process; and (2) is made with respect to geographic areas in which there is a substantial rate of mortality from, or a substantial incidence of, breast or cervical cancer.

Revises breast and cervical cancer screening quality assurance requirements. Allows the grants to be made to tribes and tribal organizations. Includes these changes in evaluation and reporting requirements.

Establishes a committee to coordinate Federal agency activities regarding established objectives for reductions in breast and cervical cancer in the United States by the year 2000.

(Sec. 102) Authorizes demonstration project grants to up to three States receiving the cancer grants to provide: (1) additional preventive services including health education and blood pressure and cholesterol screening; (2) referrals and follow-up; and (3) related evaluations. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the breast and cervical cancer preventive health measures provisions.

(Sec. 104) Conditions receipt of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts under the Act upon specified entities making available information concerning breast and cervical cancer.

Title II: Injury Prevention and Control - Amends the Act to direct the Secretary to carry out specified activities with respect to interpersonal violence within families and among acquaintances, including: (1) collecting data relating to the incidence of violence; (2) making grants for the evaluation of programs to prevent violence, for research on identifying effective strategies for prevention, and for demonstration projects with respect to such violence and its prevention; (3) educating the public on violence and its public health consequences; and (4) training health care providers.

(Sec. 202) Revises reporting provisions to: (1) require the Secretary to: (1) establish a committee to advise the Secretary and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) regarding the prevention and control of injuries; and (2) submit certain reports to specified congressional committees. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private entities regarding the planning, development, and operation of related programs or services.

(Sec. 204) Authorizes appropriations.

Title III: Tuberculosis - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants to States, political subdivisions, and other public entities for preventive health service programs for the prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis (TB).

Authorizes the Secretary to carry out research (with priority to research concerning drug-resistant strains of TB and TB cases that affect certain populations), demonstration projects, public information and education programs, and health professional education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities, to support centers to carry out the preceding activities, and for collaboration with international organizations and foreign countries to carry out such activities.

Restricts grants under this title to applicants who agree to cooperate with public and nonprofit private providers of primary health or substance abuse services, including specified entities receiving Federal assistance, in carrying out activities under the grant. Authorizes the Secretary to provide supplies and services in lieu of grant funds. Directs the Secretary to establish an Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis.

(Sec. 302) Requires the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to conduct or support research and research training regarding the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, and treatment of TB. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary to implement a TB drug and device research program under which the Commissioner of Food and Drugs may: (1) provide assistance to other Federal agencies for the development of TB protocols; (2) review and evaluate medical devices designed for the diagnosis and control of airborne TB; and (3) conduct research concerning drugs or devices to be used in diagnosing, controlling, and preventing TB.

Title IV: Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants to States and political subdivisions for the development of innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 402) Authorizes appropriations to extend the program regarding preventable cases of infertility arising as a result of STDs.

Title V: National Center for Health Statistics - Revises provisions of the Act to make technical changes regarding the National Center for Health Statistics and regarding reporting and other requirements pertaining to the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of health services.

Repeals a provision requiring the Secretary to conduct an ongoing study of the health costs of pollution and other environmental conditions resulting from human activity (including outdoor and indoor air pollution at places of employment and residence).

Reauthorizes appropriations for grants to public and nonprofit private entities to survey, study, analyze data on, and research improving statistical methods concerning, ethnic and racial populations and subpopulations.

Title VI: Trauma Care Systems - Amends the Act to direct: (1) the Secretary to act through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with respect to trauma care activities; and (2) the Administrator to ensure that such activities are administered by the Division of Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems within the HRSA, headed by a director appointed by the Secretary from among individuals knowledgeable by training or experience in the development and operation of trauma and emergency medical systems.

Repeals provisions: (1) establishing an Advisory Council on Trauma Care Systems; and (2) regarding waiver of a requirement regarding the purpose of grants.

Extends the date by which certain reports by the States and by the Secretary to specified congressional committees are due. Requires the Secretary's report to include an assessment of the extent to which Federal and State efforts to develop trauma care systems and to designate trauma centers have reduced the incidence of mortality and permanent disability resulting from trauma.

(Sec. 602) Authorizes appropriations.

Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Revises the Act to provide that: (1) such portion as the Secretary shall determine, but not less than .2 percent nor more than one percent, of any amounts appropriated for programs authorized under the Act shall be made available for the evaluation (directly, or by grants of contracts) of the implementation and effectiveness of such programs; and (2) not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to specified congressional committees a report summarizing the findings of such evaluations.

(Sec. 702) Authorizes the Secretary to provide to personnel appointed or assigned by the Secretary to serve abroad, allowances and benefits similar to those provided under specified provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1990. Makes leaves of absence for such personnel available on the same basis as that provided for individuals serving in the Foreign Service.

(Sec. 703) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program of entering into contracts with appropriately qualified health professionals under which such professionals agree to conduct prevention activities, as employees of the CDCP and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in consideration of the Government agreeing to repay, for each year of service, not more than $20,000 of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such professionals, subject to specified limitations. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 704) Directs the Secretary to require the Surgeon General to prepare biennial reports on the relationship between nutrition and health.

(Sec. 705) Reauthorizes appropriations through FY 1998 for programs concerning: (1) screenings, education, and referrals regarding lead poisoning; (2) prostate cancer prevention; (3) cancer registries; (4) health promotion and disease prevention research and demonstration centers; and (5) preventive health and health services block grants.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) during FY 1994 through 1994, authorizations for appropriations for CDCP programs should be provided only through FY 1998; and (2) for FY 1999 and subsequent fiscal years, authorizations of appropriations for such programs should be so considered during a single year.

(Sec. 706) Requires that appropriations for the payment of judgments related to certain malpractice and negligence suits against health care professionals be made separately from specified other appropriations.

Revises provisions related to the compensation of members of the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps to entitle such members to receive, for each day in which they are serving, compensation at a rate fixed by the Secretary, but not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule.

(Sec. 707) Authorizes the Secretary to issue interim final regulations: (1) under which the Secretary may approve accreditation bodies under provisions of the Act relating to certification of mammography facilities; and (2) establishing quality standards with respect to such facilities.

(Sec. 708) Revises vaccine-related provisions to require that: (1) vaccine information materials be developed after providing 60 (currently, 90) days for comments; (2) the information in such materials be based on available data and information and include concise descriptions of the benefits of the vaccine and the risks associated with it, a statement of the availability of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and such other relevant information as may be determined by the Secretary; and (3) the Secretary and each health care provider who administers a vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table provide vaccine information materials to persons receiving such vaccine (with respect to such providers, supplemented with visual presentations or oral explanations in appropriate cases).