Bill Summary for H 1141 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

May 18 2020

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 1141 (Public) Filed Thursday, May 14, 2020
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES, TO STUDY WHETHER IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EVIDENCE-BASED IMPLICIT BIAS PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WOULD IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH AND REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS RESIDING IN NORTH CAROLINA; AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Intro. by Hawkins, von Haefen.

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Bill summary

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (Office), to study whether implementing an evidence-based implicit bias program for all health care providers involved in perinatal care of patients within specified types of facilities would improve  maternal health and reduce infant mortality rates among African Americans residing in the state. Requires the Office to assume that 10 specified components would be included in the program, including: (1)  identification of previous or current unconscious biases and misinformation; (2) identification of personal, interpersonal, institutional, structural, and cultural barriers to inclusion; (3) corrective measures to decrease implicit bias at the interpersonal and institutional levels; (4) discussion on power dynamics and organizational decision making; and (5) discussion on health inequities within the perinatal care field. 

Allows the Office to contract with an independent third party to conduct research for the study using funds appropriated to DHHS in this act. Requires the Office to report its findings to the specified NCGA committee by April 15, 2021.

Appropriates $50,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2020-21 to the Office to conduct the study.

Effective July 1, 2020.