What This Bill Does
This bill changes the Public Health Service Act to require the federal government to create and run a public education campaign about oral health. The campaign will run through multiple health programs managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (a federal agency that provides health services). The goal is to help Americans understand and care for their teeth and mouth health.
Who It Affects
The Health Resources and Services Administration (the federal agency running the campaign) directly carries out this work. The campaign targets children, pregnant women, parents, elderly people, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority populations including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Key Provisions
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services, working through the Health Resources and Services Administration, must establish a public education campaign about oral health across all relevant programs, including the health center program, oral health workforce programs, maternal and child health programs, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and rural health programs. (Sec. 2(a))
• The campaign must use proven strategies focused on teaching people about oral health care and preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. (Sec. 2(b))
• The campaign must speak directly to specific groups in ways that respect their culture and language. (Sec. 2(c))
• The Secretary must measure how well the campaign works and report the results to Congress within 3 years. (Sec. 2(d), (e))
• The government can spend $750,000 each year for fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to run this campaign. (Sec. 2(f))
What Changes
The Public Health Service Act will be amended to add a new section creating requirements for an oral health education campaign. Federal health programs will begin conducting this campaign, and federal agencies will need to measure and report on its success.
Important Definitions
"Oral health literacy and awareness" is not explicitly defined in the bill text. The bill mentions specific oral diseases it wants to prevent: caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease (gum disease), and oral cancer.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 994
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a public education
campaign across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and
Services Administration to increase oral health literacy and awareness.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Mr. CA´RDENAS (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a
public education campaign across all relevant programs
of the Health Resources and Services Administration
to increase oral health literacy and awareness.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Oral Health Literacy
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and Awareness Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AND AWARENESS CAM-
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PAIGN.
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The Public Health Service Act is amended by insert-
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ing after section 340G–1 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 256g–
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1) the following:
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‘‘SEC. 340G–2. ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AND AWARENESS.
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‘‘(a) CAMPAIGN.—The Secretary, acting through the
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Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
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ministration, shall establish a public education campaign
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(referred to in this subsection as the ‘campaign’) across
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all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Serv-
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ices Administration (including the health center program,
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oral health workforce programs, maternal and child health
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programs, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and rural
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health programs) to increase oral health literacy and
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awareness.
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‘‘(b) STRATEGIES.—In carrying out the campaign,
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the Secretary shall identify oral health literacy and aware-
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ness strategies that are evidence-based and focused on oral
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health care education, including education on prevention
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of oral disease such as early childhood and other caries,
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periodontal disease, and oral cancer.
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‘‘(c) FOCUS.—The Secretary shall design the cam-
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paign to communicate directly with specific populations,
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including children, pregnant women, parents, the elderly,
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individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority
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•HR 994 IH
populations, including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Na-
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tive Hawaiians, in a culturally and linguistically appro-
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priate manner.
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‘‘(d) OUTCOMES.—In carrying out the campaign, the
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Secretary shall include a process for measuring outcomes
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and effectiveness.
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‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years
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after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary
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shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
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of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
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Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a
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report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the campaign.
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‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To
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carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
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priated $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through
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2027.’’.
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Æ
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