text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Debbie Blanchard Access to Health 
  Care for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 2010''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
              (1) According to the Bureau of the Census, approximately 1 
          in 5 people in the United States lives with some sort of 
          physical disability.
              (2) More than 54,000,000 individuals in the United States 
          report some level of disability and approximately 34,000,000 of 
          such individuals are classified as having a severe disability.
              (3) An estimated 11,000,000 individuals aged 6 and older 
          need personal assistance with everyday activities, including 
          taking a bath or shower, preparing meals, and getting around 
          the home.
              (4) Five percent of the United States population over age 
          15 uses a wheelchair or similar device, cane, crutches, or 
          walker.
              (5) The number of individuals with physical disabilities 
          continues to increase, and the Centers for Disease Control and 
          Prevention recently announced that the agency was revising its 
          estimate of the number of individuals with spina bifida, the 
          most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United 
          States, from an estimated 70,000 to an estimated 166,000.
              (6) Studies have found that individuals with disabilities 
          have significant difficulty in accessing routine and 
          specialized health care and that numerous barriers to acquiring 
          health care exist for such individuals.
              (7) Approximately 1 in 3 women with a disability reports 
          being denied services at a physician's office solely because of 
          her disability.
              (8) Research shows that women with disabilities are less 
          likely to have pap smears and mammograms, are more likely to be 
          diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages of the disease, 
          are less likely to receive standard treatments, and are more 
          likely to have worse outcomes.
              (9) Individuals with disabilities report that one of the 
          top barriers to accessing necessary health care is the 
          inability to find an accessible health care provider or 
          identify providers who understand how to treat individuals with 
          disabilities and who are willing to have such individuals as 
          patients.
              (10) The Spina Bifida Association recently announced that 
          one of its volunteers, Debbie Blanchard, a woman who lived with 
          spina bifida for 55 years, died from a late stage diagnosis of 
          cervical cancer stemming from her inability to find a health 
          care provider in her community who had an examination table 
          that would lower to the level necessary for her to comfortably 
          and safely transfer from her wheelchair to the examination 
          table so she could be screened for cervical cancer.
              (11) Organizations representing individuals with 
          disabilities report that such individuals need more and better 
          information regarding accessible health care providers in their 
          communities and additional support and resources to help ensure 
          that such individuals receive the care they need and deserve.
  
  SEC. 3. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                DISABILITIES.
  
      Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) 
  is amended by adding after part V the following:
  
   ``PART W--PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS 
                             WITH DISABILITIES
  
  ``SEC. 399OO. STATE GRANTS FOR THE CREATION OF DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE 
                PROVIDER DIRECTORIES.
  
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to States for 
  the purpose of developing and maintaining or updating and improving 
  State-based, Internet directories of health care providers that are 
  known to have entrances, examination rooms, and examination tables 
  accessible to individuals with disabilities. Such grants shall be 
  formula-based, factoring in each State's population of individuals with 
  disabilities.
      ``(b) Definition.--In this part, the term `individual with a 
  disability' has the meaning given such term in section 7(20) of the 
  Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
      ``(c) Requirement of Application.--To be eligible to receive a 
  grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
  application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
  agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require. 
  Applications shall explain how individuals with disabilities and health 
  care providers may submit information for inclusion in the Internet 
  directory of the State.
      ``(d) Authorized Activities.--
              ``(1) In general.--Recipients of a grant under this section 
          shall use grant funds to--
                      ``(A) develop and maintain an Internet directory or 
                  other such publicly available directory of information 
                  regarding individual providers, clinics, hospitals, and 
                  other health care facilities and providers in the State 
                  that are known to have entrances, examination rooms, 
                  and examination tables accessible to individuals with 
                  disabilities; or
                      ``(B) update or improve an existing, publicly 
                  available directory of information regarding individual 
                  providers, clinics, hospitals, and other health care 
                  facilities and providers in the State that are known to 
                  have entrances, examination rooms, and examination 
                  tables accessible to individuals with disabilities.
              ``(2) Directory contents.--Each directory developed and 
          maintained by a grant recipient, as described in paragraph 
          (1)(A) or updated and improved by a grant recipient, as 
          described in paragraph (1)(B), shall include--
                      ``(A) the full name, address, and telephone number 
                  of each provider, clinic, hospital, and health care 
                  facility included in the directory; and
                      ``(B) specific information about the accommodations 
                  provided by each such provider, clinic, hospital, and 
                  health care facility to individuals with disabilities.
  
  ``SEC. 399OO-1. IMPROVING PROVIDER AND PATIENT AWARENESS OF THE NEED 
                FOR ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH 
                DISABILITIES.
  
      ``(a) Pilot Program.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Office 
          on Disability of the Department of Health and Human Services 
          and in collaboration with national organizations representing 
          individuals with disabilities and health professional 
          societies, shall establish a pilot program to increase the 
          awareness of health care providers of the need to offer 
          accessible environments and examination rooms and examination 
          tables for individuals with disabilities and to increase 
          voluntary compliance with Federal accessibility requirements.
              ``(2) Development and dissemination of resources.--The 
          Secretary shall ensure that, under the pilot program 
          established under paragraph (1), resources are developed for, 
          and distributed to, health care providers to increase awareness 
          of the need to offer accessible environments and examination 
          rooms and examination tables for individuals with disabilities. 
          Such resources shall include supportive information with 
          respect to--
                      ``(A) accommodating individuals with disabilities;
                      ``(B) modifications that can be made to physical 
                  environments to ensure accessibility; and
                      ``(C) training regarding how to safely accommodate 
                  an individual in a wheelchair.
              ``(3) Targeted providers.--The pilot program shall be 
          designed to target health care professionals and health care 
          providers, including--
                      ``(A) primary care providers, such as physicians, 
                  nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, and the 
                  individuals who answer the telephones in the offices of 
                  such providers;
                      ``(B) dentists and the individuals who answer the 
                  telephones in the offices of dentists;
                      ``(C) health care clinics, including community 
                  health centers and radiology and imaging centers;
                      ``(D) inpatient and outpatient hospitals, 
                  ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, and 
                  rehabilitation facilities; and
                      ``(E) specialists, such as obstetricians and 
                  gynecologists.
              ``(4) Program materials and messages.--Any materials and 
          messages of the pilot program, including the resources designed 
          and distributed as described in paragraph (2), shall reflect 
          and incorporate information, findings, and materials otherwise 
          developed by the Federal Government, such as information 
          available through the `Right to Know Health Promotion Campaign' 
          of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and shall be 
          field-tested and presented to focus groups to ensure 
          effectiveness.
              ``(5) Program evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
          evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot program and make 
          any necessary revisions to the program to ensure effectiveness 
          and support in nationwide implementation of the program.
      ``(b) Information for Individuals With Disabilities.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Office 
          on Disability of the Department of Health and Human Services, 
          in collaboration with national organizations representing 
          individuals with disabilities, shall develop and disseminate 
          resources to support individuals with disabilities in finding 
          providers that are accessible to such individuals.
              ``(2) Contents.--The resources described in paragraph (1) 
          shall--
                      ``(A) include a concise list of questions for 
                  individuals with disabilities to ask when calling a 
                  health care provider for the first time to schedule an 
                  appointment, and suggestions for explaining the special 
                  needs of such individual to the provider and for 
                  seeking accommodation from the provider;
                      ``(B) be culturally appropriate and at appropriate 
                  literacy levels for the target audience;
                      ``(C) reflect and incorporate information, 
                  findings, and materials otherwise developed by the 
                  Federal Government, such as information available 
                  through the `Right to Know Health Promotion Campaign' 
                  of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
                      ``(D) be field-tested and presented to focus groups 
                  to ensure effectiveness; and
                      ``(E) be disseminated on the Internet and through 
                  other means to ensure that individuals with 
                  disabilities receive support and assistance in their 
                  efforts to identify accessible health care providers in 
                  their communities.
  
  ``SEC. 399OO-2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.
  
      ``(a) Establishment of the Advisory Committee.--The Secretary shall 
  establish a National Advisory Committee on Access to Health Care for 
  Individuals With Disabilities (referred to in this section as the 
  `Advisory Committee') to support implementation of this part and to 
  ensure interagency coordination of efforts to improve access to care 
  for individuals with disabilities.
      ``(b) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Advisory 
  Committee shall include--
              ``(1) reviewing applications for grants under section 
          399OO;
              ``(2) evaluating the grant program under section 399OO;
              ``(3) reviewing and providing feedback on the resources and 
          other materials developed under section 399OO-1;
              ``(4) assisting with the dissemination of the information 
          and resources developed under sections 399OO and 399OO-1; and
              ``(5) ensuring coordination of efforts within the 
          Department of Health and Human Services to increase access to 
          care for individuals with disabilities and to disseminate 
          information regarding accessible entrances, examination rooms, 
          and tables of health care providers.
      ``(c) Membership.--
              ``(1) In general.--The members of the Advisory Committee 
          shall include representatives of--
                      ``(A) the Office on Disability of the Department of 
                  Health and Human Services;
                      ``(B) the Office of Minority Health of the 
                  Department of Health and Human Services;
                      ``(C) the Office for Civil Rights of the Department 
                  of Health and Human Services;
                      ``(D) the Health Resources and Services 
                  Administration, including the Bureau of Primary Health 
                  Care, the Office of Minority Health and Health 
                  Disparities, and the Office of Equal Opportunity and 
                  Civil Rights of such administration;
                      ``(E) the Centers for Disease Control and 
                  Prevention;
                      ``(F) the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
                  Quality;
                      ``(G) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
                      ``(H) other Federal agencies, such as the 
                  Department of Veterans Affairs, as appropriate;
                      ``(I) at least 5 private nonprofit organizations 
                  that are dedicated to improving the quality of life of, 
                  and facilitating access to health care for, individuals 
                  with disabilities; and
                      ``(J) at least 3 health professional societies.
              ``(2) Voluntary service.--Members of the Advisory Committee 
          shall serve without compensation.
  
  ``SEC. 399OO-3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
  
      ``The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of 
  enactment of this part and annually thereafter, submit to Congress a 
  report summarizing the activities, findings, outcomes, and 
  recommendations resulting from the grant and pilot programs and other 
  activities under this part.
  
  ``SEC. 399OO-4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part, 
  such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015.''.
target: Debbie Blanchard Access to Health Care for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to develop, maintain, and improve Internet directories of health care providers that are known to have entrances, examination rooms, and examination tables that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  
  Requires the Secretary, acting through the Office on Disability of HHS, to: (1) establish a pilot program to increase the awareness of health care providers of the need to offer accessible environments, examination rooms, and examination tables for individuals with disabilities and to increase voluntary compliance with federal accessibility requirements; and (2) develop and disseminate resources to support individuals with disabilities in finding providers that are accessible to such individuals, which shall include a concise list of questions for individuals with disabilities to ask when calling a health care provider for the first time to schedule an appointment and suggestions for explaining the special needs of such individuals to the provider and for seeking accommodation from the provider.
  
  Requires the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee on Access to Health Care for Individuals With Disabilities to support implementation of this Act and to ensure interagency coordination of efforts to improve access to care for individuals with disabilities.
feat_title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase access to health care for individuals with disabilities and increase awareness of the need for health care facilities and examination rooms to be accessible for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.