119-s403

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 403 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 403

 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an 
 Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 5, 2025

Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
 Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an 
 Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Health Focus Act''.

SEC. 2. CDC OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
shall establish within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
an office to be known as the Office of Rural Health, to be headed by a 
director selected by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.

    (b) Duties and Authorities.--The duties and authorities of the 
Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be limited to the 
following:

    (1) Serving as the primary point of contact in the Centers 
 for Disease Control and Prevention on matters pertaining to 
 rural health.

    (2) Assisting the Director of the Centers for Disease 
 Control and Prevention in conducting, coordinating, and 
 promoting research regarding public health issues affecting 
 rural populations, and in disseminating the results of such 
 research.

    (3) Working with all personnel and offices of the Centers 
 for Disease Control and Prevention to develop, refine, 
 coordinate, and promulgate policies, best practices, lessons 
 learned, and innovative, successful programs to improve care 
 and services (including through telehealth) for rural 
 populations.

    (4) Coordinating and supporting rural health research, 
 conducting and supporting educational outreach, and 
 disseminating evidence-based interventions related to health 
 outcomes, access to health care, and lifestyle challenges, to 
 prevent death, disease, injury, and disability, and promote 
 healthy behaviors in rural populations.

    (5) Improving the understanding of the health challenges 
 faced by rural populations.

    (6) Identifying disparities in the availability of health 
 care and public health interventions for rural populations.

    (7) Awarding and administering grants, cooperative 
 agreements, and contracts to provide technical assistance and 
 other activities as necessary to support activities related to 
 improving health and health care in rural areas.

    (8) Coordinating with the Federal Office of Rural Health 
 Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, as 
 needed, to facilitate cooperation on rural health initiatives 
 and avoid duplication of efforts.
 <all>