Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to implement a regional public health authority incentive funding pilot program as follows: (1) counties must create a public health authority as specified; (2) in order to qualify for incentive funding, the regional authority must provide health services in a catchment that includes either a minimum of 15 counties or a minimum population of 500,000; counties with 500,000 or more will be eligible to receive funding if they combine with another county; (3) regions should coincide with boundaries of other preexisting health relevant districts and planning regions if possible; (4) incentive funds are allocated to each county within the region in a minimum of $2.00 per capita per year; (5) funding is limited to three consecutive yearly allocations; and (6) incentive funds are granted only after the adoption of the required resolutions. Details additional incentive funding provisions.
Directs the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission to allocate, from available Health and Wellness Trust Fund funds in 2011-12, up to $6 million to DHHS, to be credited to a nonreverting account and used to support regional public health authorities through the incentive funding pilot.
Directs DHHS to report to specified entities by May 1, 2012, on the progress of the pilot program, including a review of the capacity of small counties to meet the mandatory core public health functions and whether the state should establish minimum populations for local health departments.
Effective July 1, 2011.