In adopting this subtitle, the General Assembly intends to encourage courses or seminars that address the identification and elimination of health care services disparities of minority populations as part of: Curriculum courses or seminars offered or required by institutions of higher education; Continuing education requirements for health care providers; and Continuing education programs offered by hospitals for hospital staff and health care practitioners.

An institution of higher education in the State that includes in the curriculum courses necessary for the licensing of health care professionals in the State may include in the curriculum courses or offer special seminars that address the identification and elimination of health care services disparities of minority populations as reported in the findings of: The Institute of Medicine’s report “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care”; and The Surgeon General’s “Healthy People 2020” report. The courses or special seminars described under subsection (a) of this section shall address, with cultural competence, sensitivity, and health literacy the issue of health care services disparities of minority populations identified by: Race; Ethnicity; Poverty; and Gender.

A hospital with a continuing education program may offer and require the hospital’s medical staff and health care practitioners to take a continuing medical education or continuing education unit course that addresses health care services disparities of minority populations.