(1) The general assembly hereby finds that: (a) Although Colorado as a whole is a healthy state, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, who represent over twenty-five percent of the population, are disproportionately impacted by disease, injury, disability, and death; (b) Compared to the state average: (I) African Americans have a twenty-five percent higher death rate from heart disease, a twenty-eight percent higher death rate from stroke, a thirty percent higher death rate from breast cancer, a fifty percent higher death rate from colon cancer, and nearly twice the death rate from diabetes; (II) Hispanics have approximately twice the incidence of cervical cancer, a fifty percent higher death rate from cervical cancer, and approximately twice the death rate from diabetes; (III) Hispanics are fourteen and one-half percent less likely to be screened for cervical cancer and both African Americans and Hispanics are, respectively, twenty-eight percent and thirty-nine percent less likely to be screened for colon cancer. (1.5) The general assembly hereby determines and declares that: (a) Understanding the root causes of health disparities includes recognizing that health starts in our homes, schools, and communities; (b) Vulnerable populations that are currently identified by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability status, aging population, and socioeconomic status, among others, experience poorer health status outcomes; and (c) Mounting evidence demonstrates that factors such as economic, physical, and social environment play a significant role in health, and if addressed, can create better health outcomes. (2) Therefore, the general assembly hereby declares that it is in the best interests of the state to establish a health disparities and community grant program to provide prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases to underrepresented populations. (3) The general assembly finds that modifying the duties and structure of the office of health disparities to become the office of health equity reflects the recent advancements in the field of health by broadening the scope of the office to include the economic, physical, and social environment, and offers a more inclusive approach to eliminating health disparities for all Coloradans.
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