RCW 43.70.595
Health equity zones.
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department, in coordination with the governor's interagency council on health disparities, local health jurisdictions, and accountable communities of health, must share and review population health data, which may be related to chronic and infectious diseases, maternal birth complications, preterm births and other newborn health complications, and any other relevant health data, including hospital community health needs assessments, to identify, or allow communities to self-identify, potential health equity zones in the state and develop projects to meet the unique needs of each zone. The department must provide technical support to communities in the use of data to facilitate self-identification of health equity zones.
(2) Communities' uses of data must align with projects and outcomes to be measured in self-identified zones.
(3) The department must use the first 12 months following July 25, 2021, to develop a plan and process to allow communities to implement health equity zone programs statewide. The department has authority to determine the number of health equity zones and projects based on available resources.
(4) Communities that self-identify zones or the department must notify relevant community organizations in the zones of the health equity zone designation and allow those organizations to identify projects to address the zone's most urgent needs related to health disparities. Community organizations may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Community health clinics;
(b) Local health providers;
(c) Federally qualified health centers;
(d) Health systems;
(e) Local government;
(f) Public school districts;
(g) Recognized American Indian organizations and Indian health organizations;
(h) Local health jurisdictions; and
(i) Any other nonprofit organization working to address health disparities in the zone.
(5) Local organizations working within zones may form coalitions to identify the needs of the zone, design projects to address those needs, and develop an action plan to implement the projects. Local organizations may partner with state or national organizations outside the specific zone designation. Projects may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Addressing health care provider access and health service delivery;
(b) Improving information sharing and community trust in providers and services;
(c) Conducting outreach and education efforts; and
(d) Recommending systems and policy changes that will improve population health.
(6) The department must provide:
(a) Support to the coalitions in identifying and applying for resources to support projects within the zones;
(b) Technical assistance related to project management and developing health outcome and other measures to evaluate project success; and
(c) Subject to availability, funding to implement projects.
(7) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by December 1, 2023, and every two years thereafter, the department must submit a report to the legislature detailing the projects implemented in each zone and the outcome measures, including year-over-year health data, to demonstrate project success.
(8) For the purposes of this section "health equity zone" or "zone" means a contiguous geographic area that demonstrates measurable and documented health disparities and poor health outcomes, which may include but are not limited to high rates of maternal complications, newborn health complications, and chronic and infectious disease, is populated by communities of color, Indian communities, communities experiencing poverty, or immigrant communities, and is small enough for targeted interventions to have a significant impact on health outcomes and health disparities. Documented health disparities must be documented or identified by the department or the centers for disease control and prevention.
[ 2021 c 262 § 2.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2021 c 262: "(1) The legislature finds that people of color, Indian, people experiencing poverty, and immigrant populations experience significant health disparities compared to the general population, including more limited access to health care and poorer health outcomes. The legislature finds that these circumstances result in higher rates of morbidity and mortality for persons of color and immigrant populations than observed in the general population.
(2) Therefore, the legislature intends to create health equity zones to address significant health disparities identified by health outcome data. The state intends to work with community leaders within the health equity zones to share information and coordinate efforts with the goal of addressing the most urgent needs. Health equity zone partners shall develop, expand, and maintain positive relationships with communities of color, Indian communities, communities experiencing poverty, and immigrant communities within the zone to develop effective and sustainable programs to address health inequity." [ 2021 c 262 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 43 - State Government—Executive
Chapter 43.70 - Department of Health.
43.70.020 - Department created.
43.70.030 - Secretary of health.
43.70.040 - Secretary's powers—Rule-making authority—Report to the legislature.
43.70.041 - Five-year formal review process of existing rules.
43.70.045 - Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.
43.70.047 - Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.
43.70.050 - Collection, use, and accessibility of health-related data.
43.70.053 - Hospital consolidated annual income—Reporting.
43.70.054 - Health care data standards—Submittal of standards to legislature.
43.70.060 - Duties of department—Promotion of health care cost-effectiveness.
43.70.068 - Quality assurance—Interagency cooperation.
43.70.070 - Duties of department—Analysis of health services.
43.70.075 - Identity of whistleblower protected—Remedy for retaliatory action—Definitions—Rules.
43.70.080 - Transfer of powers and duties from the department of social and health services.
43.70.090 - Authority to administer oaths and issue subpoenas—Provisions governing subpoenas.
43.70.097 - Enforcement in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.
43.70.110 - License fees—Costs—Other charges—Waiver.
43.70.115 - Licenses—Denial, suspension, revocation, modification.
43.70.120 - Federal programs—Rules—Statutes to be construed to meet federal law.
43.70.125 - Health care facility certification—Unfunded federal mandates—Applicant fees.
43.70.130 - Powers and duties of secretary—General.
43.70.140 - Annual conference of health officers.
43.70.150 - Registration of vital statistics.
43.70.190 - Violations—Injunctions and legal proceedings authorized.
43.70.195 - Public water systems—Receivership actions brought by secretary—Plan for disposition.
43.70.210 - Right of person to rely on prayer to alleviate ailments not abridged.
43.70.220 - Transfer of powers and duties from the department of licensing.
43.70.230 - Office of health consumer assistance created—Duties.
43.70.240 - Written operating agreements.
43.70.250 - License fees for professions, occupations, and businesses.
43.70.270 - License moratorium for persons in the service—Rules.
43.70.290 - Funeral directors and embalmers subject to chapter 18.130 RCW.
43.70.310 - Cooperation with department of ecology.
43.70.323 - Hospital infection control grant account.
43.70.327 - Public health supplemental account—Annual statement.
43.70.334 - Temporary worker housing—Definition.
43.70.337 - Temporary worker housing building permit—Plans and specifications—Fees—Rules.
43.70.400 - Head injury prevention—Legislative finding.
43.70.410 - Head injury prevention—Program, generally.
43.70.420 - Head injury prevention—Information preparation.
43.70.435 - Diagnosed concussions of students—Report.
43.70.440 - Head injury prevention act—Short title—1990 c 270.
43.70.444 - Washington plan for suicide prevention—Steering committee—Report.
43.70.446 - Suicide-safer homes project—Suicide-safer homes project account.
43.70.470 - Retired health care provider liability malpractice insurance—Conditions.
43.70.480 - Emergency medical personnel—Futile treatment and natural death directives—Guidelines.
43.70.495 - Telemedicine training for health care professionals.
43.70.500 - Health care services practice indicators and risk management protocols.
43.70.510 - Health care services coordinated quality improvement program—Rules.
43.70.512 - Public health system—Foundational public health services—Intent.
43.70.515 - Foundational public health services—Funding.
43.70.525 - Immunization assessment and enhancement proposals by local jurisdictions.
43.70.526 - Childhood immunizations—Resources for expecting parents.
43.70.533 - Chronic conditions—Training and technical assistance for primary care providers.
43.70.540 - Data collection—Legislative finding and intent.
43.70.545 - Data collection and reporting rules.
43.70.550 - Public health services improvement plan—Contents.
43.70.555 - Assessment standards.
43.70.560 - Media violence—Reporting reduction efforts.
43.70.590 - American Indian health care delivery plan.
43.70.595 - Health equity zones.
43.70.600 - Survey regarding exposure to radio frequencies—Results.
43.70.605 - Personal wireless services—Random testing on power density analysis—Rules.
43.70.610 - Domestic violence education program—Established—Findings.
43.70.613 - Health care professionals—Health equity continuing education.
43.70.617 - Prenatal nutrition best practices—Educational resources for pregnant women.
43.70.619 - Pregnancy complications—Informational resources.
43.70.620 - List of contacts—Health care professions.
43.70.630 - Cost-reimbursement agreements.
43.70.640 - Workplace breastfeeding policies—Infant-friendly designation.
43.70.645 - Donor human milk—Milk bank safety standards.
43.70.650 - School sealant endorsement program—Rules—Fee—Report to the legislature.
43.70.660 - Product safety education.
43.70.665 - Early detection breast and cervical cancer screening program—Medical advisory committee.
43.70.670 - Human immunodeficiency virus insurance program.
43.70.675 - Public health advisory board.
43.70.680 - Volunteers for emergency or disaster assistance.
43.70.690 - State asthma plan.
43.70.705 - Fall prevention program.
43.70.715 - COVID-19 public health response account.
43.70.720 - Universal vaccine purchase account.
43.70.725 - Health extension program—Dissemination of evidence-based tools and resources—Rules.
43.70.738 - Down syndrome resources—Development.
43.70.740 - Adjudicative proceedings.
43.70.765 - Opioid drugs—Warning—Patient education materials.
43.70.770 - State opioid response plan.
43.70.780 - Fruit and vegetable incentives program.
43.70.790 - Health care facility inspection and investigation availability.
43.70.800 - Oversight, consolidation, and standardization—Review.
43.70.810 - Provision of medical information—Dissemination of requirements and authority.
43.70.815 - Environmental health disparities map.
43.70.820 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of health.
43.70.825 - School-based health center program office.
43.70.835 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—State-tribal compact schools.
43.70.840 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—Technical guidance.
43.70.850 - Suicide-safer homes task force.
43.70.901 - References to the director or department of licensing—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.
43.70.902 - References to the hospital commission—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.