HR994-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2023.

2. Oral health literacy and awareness campaign The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 340G–1 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 256g–1) the following: The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a public education campaign (referred to in this subsection as the campaign) across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration (including the health center program, oral health workforce programs, maternal and child health programs, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and rural health programs) to increase oral health literacy and awareness. In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall identify oral health literacy and awareness strategies that are evidence-based and focused on oral health care education, including education on prevention of oral disease such as early childhood and other caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. The Secretary shall design the campaign to communicate directly with specific populations, including children, pregnant women, parents, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority populations, including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall include a process for measuring outcomes and effectiveness. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the campaign. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 340G–2.Oral health literacy and awareness (a)CampaignThe Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a public education campaign (referred to in this subsection as the campaign) across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration (including the health center program, oral health workforce programs, maternal and child health programs, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and rural health programs) to increase oral health literacy and awareness. (b)StrategiesIn carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall identify oral health literacy and awareness strategies that are evidence-based and focused on oral health care education, including education on prevention of oral disease such as early childhood and other caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. (c)FocusThe Secretary shall design the campaign to communicate directly with specific populations, including children, pregnant women, parents, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority populations, including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. (d)OutcomesIn carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall include a process for measuring outcomes and effectiveness. (e)Report to CongressNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the campaign. (f)Authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027..