Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health
Establishment of Office
Duties
The Secretary, acting through the Office, with respect to the health concerns of women, shall—
establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives within the Department of Health and Human Services and, as relevant and appropriate, coordinate with other appropriate offices on activities within the Department that relate to disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, research, and public and health care professional education, for issues of particular concern to women throughout their lifespan; 1
provide expert advice and consultation to the Secretary concerning scientific, legal, ethical, and policy issues relating to women’s health;
monitor the Department of Health and Human Services’ offices, agencies, and regional activities regarding women’s health and identify needs regarding the coordination of activities, including intramural and extramural multidisciplinary activities;
establish a Department of Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health, which shall be chaired by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health and composed of senior level representatives from each of the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services;
establish a National Women’s Health Information Center to—
facilitate the exchange of information regarding matters relating to health information, health promotion, preventive health services, research advances, and education in the appropriate use of health care;
facilitate access to such information;
assist in the analysis of issues and problems relating to the matters described in this paragraph; and
provide technical assistance with respect to the exchange of information (including facilitating the development of materials for such technical assistance);
coordinate efforts to promote women’s health programs and policies with the private sector; and
through publications and any other means appropriate, provide for the exchange of information between the Office and recipients of grants, contracts, and agreements under subsection (c), and between the Office and health professionals and the general public.
Grants and contracts regarding duties
Authority
Evaluation and dissemination
Reports
Authorization of appropriations
Source
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 229, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title III, § 3509(a)(1),Notes
Construction
Transfer of Functions
“There are transferred to the Office on Women’s Health (established under section 229 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 237a], as added by this section), all functions exercised by the Office on Women’s Health of the Public Health Service prior to the date of enactment of this section [
have been issued, made, granted, or allowed to become effective by the President, any Federal agency or official thereof, or by a court of competent jurisdiction, in the performance of functions transferred under this paragraph; and
are in effect at the time this section takes effect, or were final before the date of enactment of this section and are to become effective on or after such date,
shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law by the President, the Secretary, or other authorized official, a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.”
Information and Awareness on Eating Disorders
Information.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Office on Women’s Health, may—
update information, related fact sheets, and resource lists related to eating disorders that are available on the public Internet website of the National Women’s Health Information Center sponsored by the Office on Women’s Health, to include—
updated findings and current research related to eating disorders, as appropriate; and
information about eating disorders, including information related to males and females;
incorporate, as appropriate, and in coordination with the Secretary of Education, information from publicly available resources into appropriate obesity prevention programs developed by the Office on Women’s Health; and
make publicly available (through a public Internet website or other method) information, related fact sheets, and resource lists, as updated under paragraph (1), and the information incorporated into appropriate obesity prevention programs under paragraph (2).
Awareness.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may advance public awareness on—
the types of eating disorders;
the seriousness of eating disorders, including prevalence, comorbidities, and physical and mental health consequences;
methods to identify, intervene, refer for treatment, and prevent behaviors that may lead to the development of eating disorders;
discrimination and bullying based on body size;
the effects of media on self-esteem and body image; and
the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.”