The Office of Women's Health is hereby established within the
State Department of Health Care Services. For purposes of this
chapter, "office" means the Office of Women's Health.
136. (a) The California Health and Human Services Agency shall
establish an interagency task force on women's health composed of
representatives of the State Department of Health Care Services, the
State Department of Public Health, the State Department of
Developmental Services, the State Department of Social Services, the
State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and the Major Risk
Medical Insurance Program.
(b) The State Department of Education, the Department of Housing
and Community Development, the office of the Attorney General, the
State Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Corrections
may participate with the interagency task force on women's health
when necessary to implement the state strategy developed pursuant to
Section 137.
137. (a) The office shall develop a coordinated state strategy for
addressing the health related needs of women.
(b) The approved programmatic costs of the office shall be shared
equally by the State Department of Health Care Services and the State
Department of Public Health unless otherwise provided by law.
(c) The office shall report to the Director of Health Care
Services.
138. The office may do any of the following on behalf of the State
Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public
Health jointly or separately:
(a) Perform strategic planning within these state departments to
develop departmentwide plans for implementation of goals and
objectives for women's health.
(b) Conduct policy analysis on specific issues related to women's
health.
(c) Coordinate pilot projects and planning projects funded by the
state that are related to women's health.
(d) Identify unnecessary duplication of services and future
service needs.
(e) Communicate and disseminate information and perform a liaison
function within these state departments and to providers of health,
social, educational, and support services to women.
(f) Perform internal staff training for these state departments,
Image via Wikipediaand training of health care professionals to ensure more
linguistically and culturally appropriate care.
(g) Serve as a clearinghouse for information regarding women's
health data, strategies, and programs that address women's health
issues, including pregnancy, breast and cervical cancers, AIDS,
osteoporosis, and menopause, as well as issues that impact women's
health, including substance abuse, domestic violence, housing,
teenage pregnancy, and sexual assault.
(h) Encourage innovative responses by public and private entities
that are attempting to address women's health issues.
(i) Provide technical assistance to counties, other public
entities, and private entities seeking to obtain funds for
initiatives in women's health, including identification of sources of
funding and assistance with writing of grants.
138.4. (a) The State Department of Health Care Services and the
State Department of Public Health shall place priority on providing
information to consumers, patients, and health care providers
regarding women's gynecological cancers, including, signs and
symptoms, risk factors, the benefits of early detection through
appropriate diagnostic testing, and treatment options.
(b) The information may include, but is not limited to, the
following elements:
(1) Educational and informational materials in print, audio,
video, electronic, or other media.
(2) Public service announcements and advertisements.
(c) (1) Each department may produce or contract with others to
develop the materials described in this section as the director of
each department deems appropriate, or may survey available
publications from, among other sources, the National Cancer Institute
and the American Cancer Society, and may collect and formulate a
distribution plan and disseminate these publications according to the
plan. These materials may be made available to the public free of
charge and may include distribution through the Medical Board of
California, as well as through other sources according to the
distribution plan.
(2) Each department may require, as it deems appropriate, health
care providers to make these materials available to patients.
(d) In exercising the powers under this section, each department
shall consult with appropriate health care professionals and
providers, consumers, and patients, or organizations representing
them.
(e) Each department may appoint a Women's Gynecological Cancer
Information Advisory Council which may include representation from
health care professionals and providers, consumers, patients, and
other appropriate interests. Members of each council shall receive no
compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(f) Each department's duties pursuant to this section are
contingent upon that department receiving funds appropriated for this
purpose.
(g) Each department may adopt any regulations necessary and
appropriate for that department's implementation of this section.
138.6. (a) The department shall include in any literature that it
produces regarding breast cancer information that shall include, but
not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Summarized information on risk factors for breast cancer in
younger women, including, but not limited to, information on the
increased risk associated with a family history of the disease.
(2) Summarized information regarding detection alternatives to
mammography that may be available and more effective for at-risk
women between the ages of 25 and 40 years.
(3) Information on Internet Web sites of relevant organizations,
government agencies, and research institutions where information on
mammography alternatives may be obtained.
(b) The information required by subdivision (a) shall be produced
consistent with the department's protocols and procedures regarding
the production and dissemination of information on breast cancer,
including, but not limited to, the following factors:
(1) Restrictions imposed by space limitation on materials
currently produced and distributed by the department.
(2) Future regular production and replacement schedules.
(3) Translation standards governing the number of languages and
literacy levels.
(4) The nature, content, and purpose of the material into which
this new information will be incorporated.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that subdivisions (a) and
(b) apply to information that is distributed by any branch of the
department, including, but not limited to, the Cancer Detection
Section and the Office of Women's Health, which are charged with
providing information about cancer.
