Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.2227 - Racial and ethnic health disparities; duties of department

Racial and ethnic health disparities; duties of department

The Michigan Legislature has conferred the following powers and duties pertaining racial and ethnic health disparities upon the Michigan Department of Public Health:

• Create a plan to combat any racial and ethnic health disparities;

• Monitor the health of minorities, create minority health policy, and plan for a statewide reduction of racial and ethnic health disparities;

• Fund programs, initiatives, and research aimed at minority health available federal, state, and private funds;

• Provide assistance to local entities (e.g. minority health coalitions) that are working to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities;

• Create a webpage that contains minority population research, a minority health resource directory, and racial and ethnic group data including, at minimum, morbidity and mortality rates;

• Create strategies to increase the amount of minority health professionals and increase provider awareness of health disparities;

• Encourage the creation of minority health coalitions and designate a department liaison to facilitate communication between the coalitions and the department; and

• Support local communities efforts to fund health care delivery system initiatives that will address racial and ethnic health care disparities, among others.