US Commissions, Offices and Taskforces on Women’s Health Resources in United States

US Commissions, Offices and Taskforces on Women’s Health Resources

Some state legislatures are responding to the varied health needs of women through legislative action. As the body of research related to women’s health has grown, states have responded by enacting legislation that reaches far beyond the typical reproductive issues. Such legislation relates to breast cancer, eating disorders, heart disease, nutrition, menopause, hormone replacement therapy and osteoporosis.  One step many states have taken is to create commissions, offices or taskforces on women’s health.

Currently, a total of 18 states have Offices of Women’s Health, including Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho,Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee. State offices of women’s health can serve many different functions, including developing agendas on women’s health issues, providing policy guidance to the governor, state legislature, and department of health, serving as a clearinghouse and resource for information on women’s health for the public and funding direct health care services.

Cal. Resolution Chap. No. 81 (2004) proclaims the month of May as Women’s Health Month.

Cal. Health and Safety Code §§ 135, 137, 138 (1994) establishes the Office of Women’s Health within the state department and presents legislative findings. The act establishes the purpose and functions of the Office of Women’s Health. [Cal. Stats., Chap. 760 (A.B.2200)]

Cal. Health and Safety Code § 136 (1994) establishes the Interagency Task Force on Women’s Health. The purpose of the taskforce is to collaborate with the Office of Women’s Health to develop a coordinated state strategy for addressing the healthrelated needs of women. [Cal. Stats., Chap. 760 (A.B.2200)]Colorado Connecticut Delaware

Del. Code Ann. tit. 29, § 7905A (2001) creates an Office of Women’s Health to address women’s health issues across the lifespan. (S.B. 53)

District of Columbia Florida GeorgiaGa. Code § 31-5A-4 creates the Office of Women’s Health within the Department of Community Health to raise awareness of women’s non-reproductive health issues.  The office will serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor, the General Assembly, the board, the department, and all other state agencies in matters relating to women§s health.Guam Hawaii IdahoIdaho Sess. Laws, Chap. 216 (2001) appropriates funds for the Idaho Women’s Commission for fiscal year 2002. The act limits the fulltime equivalent positions. (S.B. 1180)IllinoisIll. Rev. Stat. ch. 20, § 2310/2310430 (1992) designates a staff member of the state Department of Public Health to handle, address and promote women’s health issues not currently or adequately addressed by the department.IndianaInd. Code § 1619131, et seq. (1999) creates an Office of Women’s Health within the state Department of Health to educate about and advocate for women’s health. The office also serves as a clearinghouse and resource for information regarding women’s health data, services and programs as well as developing and recommending funding and program activities for educating the public about women’s health initiatives. The law provides that an annual report be submitted to the governor, the legislative council and the Indiana Commission for Women regarding the successes of the programs, priorities and services of the Office of Women’s Health. Provisions in the law are also made for the appointment of staff and advisory committee members by the health commissioner.Iowa Kansas KentuckyKy. Acts, Chap. No. 238 (2002) permits the Office of Women’s Physical and Mental Health to accept gifts, grants, and bequests. (H.B. 327)

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 194A.095 (2001) confirms an Executive Order. The act amends the statute, and renames the Office of Women’s Health, the Office of Women’s Physical and Mental Health. The act attaches the Office of Women’s Physical and Mental Health to the Office of the Secretary within the Cabinet for Health Services [Ky. Acts, Chap. 74 (H.B. 124)]Ky. Rev. Stat. § 194A.95 (1998) creates an Office of Women’s Heath in the Cabinet for Health Services. The office will serve as a repository for data and information affecting women’s health and mental health. [Ky. Acts, Chap.427, § 11]LouisianaLA. Act No. 644 (2004) creates the Office of Women’s Health within the Department of Health and Hospitals.MaineMe. Sess. Law (2001) Ch. 25 Sec. 1 directs the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health to establish a coordinator for women’s health services and build partnerships with community-based organizations, academic institutions and federal agencies. The resolve also allocates funds for such a position, contingent on the receipt of federal funds for that purpose.MarylandMd. Laws, Chap. 320 (2001) authorizes the creation of a state debt, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of Mercy Medical Center for the planning, design, construction, and capital equipping of a new facility to be used as the Center for Women’s Health and Medicine. (H.B. 1287)Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 192.965 creates the Office of Women’s Health within the Department of Health and Senior Services.  The office serves as an information clearinghouse on women’s health issues, provides policy analysis and recommendations, and promotes coordination among health programs for women.Montana NebraskaNeb. Rev. Stat. § 71- 701 creates the Women’s Heath Initiative in the Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the initiative is to improve the health of the women in Nebraska through coordinating services, advocacy, education, and policy development.Nevada New Hampshire New JerseyN.J. Rev. Stat. § 26:1A-124 (2001) creates the Office of Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Senior Services. Some of the functions of the office includes providing grants for research, demonstrations, and evaluations to community-based organizations, functioning as an information resource center, and convening task forces on specific women’s health issues.New Mexico New York North CarolinaN.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A131.25 (1997) creates an Office of Women’s Health within the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources in order to expand the state’s public health concerns and focus to include a comprehensive outlook on the overall health status of women. The goals of the office are to prevent of disease and improve the quality of life for women over their entire lifespan. [N.C. Sess. Laws, Chap. 172, s. 2.]North Dakota Ohio

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3701.141, et seq. (1993) creates the Office of Women’s Health Initiatives within the Department of Health. The office identifies, reviews and assists in the coordination of programs and resources the department is committing to women’s health concerns and advocates for women’s health by requesting that the department conduct, sponsor, encourage or fund research. The office is required to submit biennial reports of recommended programs, projects and research that address critical issues in woman’s health to the director of health. [S 131]

Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode IslandR.I Public Law No. 41 (2003) Would Bring Rhode Island into compliance with the federal Woman’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. This act would take effect upon passage.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 421191, et seq. (1994) creates a Rhode Island Commission on Women. The law directs the commission to study, make recommendations, and promote constructive action on certain issues related to women, including health. The law requires the commission to make an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly.South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee

Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-1-18 Establishes an office of Women’s Health and defines the office’s responsibilities, duties, and processes.

Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont VirginiaVa. Code §32.1-19 (2007) requires the health commissioner to designate a senior official of the department to coordinate all women’s health-related efforts to prevent, detect and treat diseases that affect women as well as the “Every Woman’s Life” program.Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming