House of Representatives

H.R. 1887 – National Institute of Nutrition Act

• Introduced by Reps. Ryan (D-OH) and Rep. Lieu (D-CA), this bill would establish a National Institute of Nutrition within the NIH, which would be charged with researching leveraging nutrition to reduce health care costs, and effective approaches to reduce dietary and health disparities, among other research.

H.R. 2519 – Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Rep. Ruiz (D-CA) and two cosponsors, this bill would authorize SAMHSA to award grants to qualifying emergency departments to support mental health services. Grant recipients must use funds to implement innovative approaches to securing prompt access to appropriate follow-on care for individuals who experience an acute mental health episode and present for care in an emergency department. The bill passed the House on September 29, 2020.

H.R. 2781 – Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) and 15 cosponsors, this bill would provide training to the health care workforce on social determinants of health in order to better the geriatric health care needs of diverse populations with cultural and linguistic competency.

H.R. 3910 – Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2019

• Introduced by Rep. Lewis (D-GA), this bill includes a social determinants of health payment model that tests each payment and service delivery innovations.

H.R. 3935 – Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act

• Introduced by Rep. Carter (R-GA) and 11 cosponsors, this bill adds non-emergency medical transportation to the list of mandatory Medicaid benefits by codifying current Medicaid NEMT regulations. The House passed this bill on September 21, 2020.

H.R. 4004 – Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and 24 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would establish the Social Determinants Accelerator Interagency Council and help states and communities devise strategies to better leverage existing programs and authorities to improve the health and well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries through planning grants and technical assistance.

H.R. 4534 – Native Health and Wellness Act of 2019

• Introduced by Reps. Ruiz (D-CA) and E&C Committee Chair Pallone (D-NJ), this bill would improve the public health system in tribal communities through grants intended to improve health, prevent disease, and reduce health disparities.

H.R. 4621 – Collecting and Analyzing Resources Integral and Necessary for Guidance for Social Determinants Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) and 8 cosponsors, this bill requires CMS to issue guidance to address social determinants of health under Medicaid and CHIP.

H.R. 4925 – Community Multi-Share Coverage Program Act

• Introduced by Rep. Huizenga (R-MI), this bill would award grants to support community-based coverage entities to carry out a coverage program that cover community and individual assessment tools to identify any negative influences on health and economic self-sufficiency to assist physicians in understanding the social determinants of health impacting an individual.

H.R. 5246 – Researching and Ending Disparities by Understanding and Creating Equity (REDUCE) Act of 2019*

• Introduced by Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ) and 7 cosponsors, this bill would require CDC to implement a Health in All Policies demonstration project to support state, territory, tribe, and local government efforts to establish or enhance collaborative approaches to improve the health of individuals and communities.

H.R. 5572 – Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Rep. Trone (D-MD) and 41 cosponsors, this bill would direct SAMHSA to award grants to certain nonprofits to develop or expand services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their families. The bill passed the House by voice vote on October 19, 2020 and moved to the Senate.

H.R. 5942 – The Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2018

• Introduced by Rep. Garcia (D-IL) and 87 cosponsors, the bill includes a number of provisions intended to improve minority health, including the Social Determinants Accelerator Act.

H.R. 6561 – Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Rep. Barragan (D-CA), this bill requires the CDC to establish a program to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities, as well as award grants to organizations to build capacity to address social determinants of health.

H.R. 6935 – Protecting the Health of America’s Older Adults During COVID-19 and Beyond Act (bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Frankel (D-FL) and three cosponsors, this bill provides for the establishment of a National COVID-19 resource center for older adults to help to mitigate the impacts of social isolation, provide health care and other services, to reduce disparities, and to develop cross-sector collaborations.

H.R. 7105 – Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Levin (D-CA) and 10 cosponsors, this bill addresses the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs programs and benefits for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill became law on January 5, 2021.

H.R. 7614 – Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021

• Introduced by House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chair DeLauro (D-CT), this bill would provide fiscal year 2021 appropriations for the Departments of Labor, HHS and Education, and would also provide for several grant programs and other opportunities to address social needs and social determinants.

H.R. 8544 – Services and Trauma-informed Research of Outcomes in Neighborhood Grants (STRONG) Support for Children Act

• Introduced by Reps. Pressley (D-MA), Maloney (D-NY) and six other cosponsors, this bill would support the development and implementation of programs using data analysis to identify and facilitate strategies to improve outcomes for children in geographic areas with a high prevalence of trauma from exposure to adverse childhood experiences.

H.R. 8565 – Children’s Protection Act

• Introduced by Reps. Maloney (D-NY) and Pressley (D-MA), this bill would require agencies to analyze how certain rules impact children. The bill would require all federal rules to undergo a childhood trauma impact study before being finalized to ensure the health, wellbeing, and futures of all children in America are prioritized.

H.R. 8918 – Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Reps. Cohen (D-TN), Holmes Norton (D-DC), Payne (D-NJ), Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Rush (D-IL), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children.

H.R. 9008 – Health and Nutrition Access for All Act

• Introduced by Rep. Garcia (D-IL), this bill would remove barriers to health care and nutrition assistance for children, pregnant persons, and lawfully present individuals under Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP.

Senate

S. 1323 – Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinants of Health (UNDERSTAND) Act (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Sens. Portman (R-OH) and Casey (D-PA), this bill would require HHS to collect data related to social determinants in the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs and submit a report to Congress on aggregate findings and trends.1

S. 1334 – Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act*

• Introduced by Sen. Capito (R-WV) and four cosponsors, this bill would authorize SAMHSA to award grants to qualifying emergency departments to support mental health services. Grant recipients must use funds to implement innovative approaches to securing prompt access to appropriate follow-on care for individuals who experience an acute mental health episode and present for care in an emergency department.

S. 2721 – Healing Communities through Health Care Act

• Introduced by Sen. Durbin (D-IL), this bill would authorize the establishment of a Medicaid housing and hospital demonstration project to test innovative partnership programs between housing agencies and programs, hospitals and health systems, and CBOs to address social determinants, enhance health care recruitment, and improve the delivery of quality, coordinated care services.

S. 2986 – Social Determinants Accelerator Act (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Sens. Young (R-IN), Stabenow (D-MI), and Coons (D-DE), this bill would establish the Social Determinants Accelerator Interagency Council and help states and communities devise strategies to better leverage existing programs and authorities to improve the health and well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries through planning grants and technical assistance.

S. 3179 – Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY), Capito (R-WV) and Stabenow (D-MI), this bipartisan bill would direct SAMHSA to award grants to certain nonprofits to develop or expand services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their families.

S. 3237 – Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) Seniors Act of 2020

• Introduced by Sen. King (I-ME), this bill would improve the annual wellness visits under the Medicare program by adding social needs referrals as a key component of the annual wellness visits.

S. 3277 – HCBS Infrastructure Improvement Act

• Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA), this bill would provide planning grants to states for the purpose of developing proposals for an HCBS infrastructure program.

S. 4388 – Mental Health Equity Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and 13 cosponsors, the bill would address the issues of suicide and mental health in youth with a focus on those in socially and economically disadvantaged communities. The bill would expand minority mental health access by supporting scientific research and increasing funding for existing federal programs, and by providing grant funding over a five-year period to establish inter-professional health care teams at community health centers, rural health clinics, and behavioral health groups that predominantly serve people of color.

S. 4980 – Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Act

• Introduced by Sen. King (I-ME), this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support research and programmatic efforts that will build on previous research on the effects of adverse childhood experiences.

S. 4989 – Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act

• Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA) and seven cosponsors, this bill would facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services for information and referral for mental health emergencies, homelessness needs, and other human services needs.

S. 4993 – Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children.

House of Representatives

H.R. 1656 – Strengthening our Pediatric Workforce Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Smucker (R-PA) and 2 cosponsors, this bill would provide grants to support initiatives focused on addressing pediatric public health disparities in children’s hospitals graduate medical education programs.

H.R. 4144 – Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Peters (D-CA) and 18 cosponsors, this bill would provide better access to whole genome sequencing clinical services for children under the Medicaid program, and requires reports by states to CMS on the extent to which whole genomic sequencing clinical services reduce health disparities.

H.R. 4393 – Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Swalwell (D-CA) and 38 cosponsors, this bill provides for a state option under the State Medicaid plan to provide DNA sequencing clinical services for children and provide for a study by the National Academy of Medicine on the use of genetic and genomic testing to improve health care and reduce health disparities.

H.R. 4499 – NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Barragan (D-CA) and 4 cosponsors, this bill would provide the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to make certain research endowments to both current and former centers of excellence to facilitate minority health disparities research and other health disparities research.

H.R. 5230 – Elijah Cummings Family Asthma Act (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Engel (D-NY) and 26 cosponsors, this bill would direct the CDC to coordinate data collection and compilation of data for asthma research, with the goal of reducing the health disparities associated with asthma.

H.R. 5469 – Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act of 2019*

• Introduced by Rep. Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and 28 cosponsors, this bill addresses mental health issues for youth and particularly youth of color, including addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health disparity research gaps.

H.R. 5939 – Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act of 2019

• Introduced by Rep. Jackson (D-TX), this bill would direct the Director of the NIH to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of research with respect to triple-negative breast cancer, which commonly affects African-American women and Hispanic women.

H.R. 5986 – Environmental Justice for All Act

• Introduced by Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ) and 36 cosponsors, this bill would support research by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for research on health disparities impacting communities of color and their lack of equitable access to green spaces, public recreation opportunities, data and information on potential exposure to environmental hazards.

H.R. 6383 – Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Clarke (D-NY) and 26 cosponsors, this bill directs the director of the NIH to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of research with respect to uterine fibroids with appropriate institutes like the Office of Minority Health and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

H.R. 6585 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 93 cosponsors, this bill establishes the Commission on Ensuring Health Equity during the COVID-19 Health Emergency and adds reporting requirements for certain demographic data related to COVID-19.

H.R. 6638 – Reducing COVID-19 Disparities by Investing in Public Health Act

• Introduced by Rep. Hayes (D-CT) and 3 cosponsors, this bill appropriates additional funding to better combat disparities that have emerged during COVID-19 for the CDC, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Fund, the National Institute on Minority Health and Offices of Minority Health in HHS, AHRQ, CMS, SAMHSA, and HRSA.

H.R. 6763 – COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 8 cosponsors, this bill would establish a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force to gather data about disproportionately affected communities and provide recommendations to combat the racial and ethnic disparities in the COVID-19 response.

H.R. 7077 – The Community Solutions for COVID-19 Act*

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL), this bill would establish or expand programs to improve health equity regarding COVID-19 and reduce or eliminate inequities in the prevalence and health outcomes of COVID-19.

H.R. 7158 – Health Enterprise Zones Act

• Introduced by Rep. Brown (D-MD) and 9 cosponsors, this bill would provide for the designation of areas as Health Enterprise Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas.

H.R. 7510 – Assimilating Health and Equity Assessments into Decision-Making (AHEAD) Act

• Introduced by Rep. Cox (D-CA) and five cosponsors, this bill would provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the potential benefits on population health outcomes of incorporating into the Federal legislative process tools that measure the impacts of proposed legislation (including in areas outside of health care).

H.R. 7618 – COVID-19 Bias and Anti-Racism Training Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Reps. Adams (D-NC) and Cartwright (D-PA), this bill would establish a grant program to provide funds for health care entities to establish or improve bias and anti-racism training to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing, treatment, health outcomes, and vaccine access.

H.R. 8141 – Strengthening Mental Health Supports for BIPOC Communities Act

• Introduced by Rep. Cardenas (D-CA) and 15 cosponsors, this bill would reduce health inequities experienced by individuals who are members of historically racial and ethnic minority groups under State plans under the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Program.

H.R. 8192 – COVID Community Care Act

• Introduced by Rep. Lee (D-CA) and 42 cosponsors, this bill would allocate $8 million for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for the implementation of a comprehensive program to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in medically underserved communities.

H.R. 8200 – Ending Health Disparities During COVID-19 Act

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 42 cosponsors, this bill would help address COVID-19 health disparities by improving data collection, testing, contact tracing, treatment, public awareness, and federal oversight during the public health emergency. The bill also includes provisions from the Social Determinants Accelerator Act and other bills to increase community health care grants, strengthen culturally competent care, and boost health information technology.

H.R. 8203 – COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Reps. Cardenas (D-CA) and Watson Coleman (D-NJ), this bill would address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. The bill would require targeted testing, contract tracing, and public awareness campaigns, and outreach efforts specifically directed at racial and ethnic minority communities and other populations that have been vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.R. 8406 – The HEROES Act

• Introduced by Rep. Lowey (D-NY) and 10 cosponsors, this bill serves as the new iteration of the May COVID-19 relief bill, scaled down to $2.2 trillion and with additional funding provisions. The bill includes provisions to support the modernization of data collection methods and infrastructure within Federal agencies and state health departments to increase data collection related to health inequities.

H.R. 8555 – COVID-19 Vaccine Fairness Act

• Introduced by Rep. Craig (D-MN), this bill would direct the Administration to develop a plan to provide states with the resources and direction needed to effectively administer the vaccine. The bill would also direct the Secretary of HHS to submit a weekly report on COVID-19 vaccine distribution to Congress.

H.R. 8639 – Mental Health Justice Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Porter (D-CA) and 39 cosponsors, this bill would authorize the Secretary of HHS to award grants to states and political subdivisions of states to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental disability.

Senate 

S. 3169 – Researching and Ending Disparities by Understanding and Creating Equity (REDUCE) Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ), this bill would require CDC to implement a Health in All Policies demonstration project to support state, territory, tribe, and local government efforts to establish or enhance collaborative approaches to improve the health of individuals and communities.

S. 3721 – COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Harris (D-CA) and 18 cosponsors, this bill would establish a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force to gather data about disproportionately affected communities and provide recommendations to combat the racial and ethnic disparities in the COVID-19 response.

S. 3877 – the Community Solutions for COVID-19 Act

• Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ) and 11 cosponsors, this bill would establish or expand programs to improve health equity regarding COVID-19 and reduce or eliminate inequities in the prevalence and health outcomes of COVID-19.

S. 4248 – COVID-19 Bias and Anti-Racism Training Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Harris (D-CA) and 15 cosponsors, this bill would establish a grant program to provide funds for health care entities to establish or improve bias and anti-racism training to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing, treatment, health outcomes, and vaccine access.

S. 4262 – COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), this bill would address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. The bill would require targeted testing, contract tracing, and public awareness campaigns, and outreach efforts specifically directed at racial and ethnic minority communities and other populations that have been vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

S. 4410 – REACH Act

• Introduced by Sens. Scott (R-SC) and Cardin (D-MD), this bill would codify the CDC’s REACH program that supports locally tailored and collaborative projects aimed at combating health disparities with a particular emphasis on chronic disease prevention and response.

S. 4440 – Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN) and Murphy (D-CT) and seven cosponsors, this bill requires the CDC to establish a program to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities, as well as award grants to organizations to build capacity to address social determinants of health.

S. 4819 – Health Equity Accountability Act (HEAA)

• Introduced by Sen. Hirono (D-HI) and eight cosponsors, this bill would improve the health of minority individuals. This bill includes the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, a bill that AFH has endorsed.

S. 4914 – Providing Access to Tribal Health, Well-being, and Youth Safety (PATHWAYS) Act of 2020

• Introduced by Sens. Carper (D-DE), Feinstein (D-CA), Tester (D-MT), Heinrich (D-NM), and Warren (D-MA), this bill would establish a grant program for transportation projects to improve Tribal health, well-being, and youth safety.

S. 4919 – AHEAD Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Cardin (D-MD) and six cosponsors, this bill would provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the potential benefits on population health outcomes of incorporating into the Federal legislative process tools that measure the impacts of proposed legislation (including in areas outside of health care) on health and health disparities.

House of Representatives

H.R. 1897 – Mothers and Offspring Maternal and Morbidity Awareness Act (MOMMA’s Act) *

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 109 cosponsors, this bill would improve federal efforts for the prevention of maternal mortality by providing technical assistance to states, issuing best practices, supporting the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal, and establish regional centers of excellence.

H.R. 2902 – Maternal CARE Act

• Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC) and 19 cosponsors, this bill requires HHS to award grants to health-professional training programs for training that addresses implicit bias in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology and award grants for pregnancy medical-home programs.

H.R. 4215 – Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Bucshon (R-IN) and 15 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would improve the training of health care professionals to reduce or prevent discrimination for maternal health care.

H.R. 4243 – Rural and Maternal Obstetric Modernization of Services Act (Bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Rep. Torres Small (D-NM) and 9 cosponsors, this bill provides funding to HRSA to expand initiatives to address maternal health in rural areas.

H.R. 4768 – Home Visiting to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Act

• Introduced by Rep. Davis (D-IL) and 26 cosponsors, this bill seeks to reduce maternal mortality by continuing to invest in evidence-based home visiting models that are addressing the social determinants of health of maternal health and morbidity.

H.R. 4995 – Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2019 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Engel (D-NY) and 28 cosponsors, this bill improves obstetric care and maternal health outcomes and provides for the CDC to improve rural maternal and obstetric care data. The bill would also create new programs to address racial and ethnic disparities in care and implement best practices in maternal care. This bill passed the House on September 21, 2020.

H.R. 4996 – Helping MOMS Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 36 cosponsors, this bill would create a new state plan option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for pregnant and postpartum women for up to one year after a beneficiary gives birth. The bill would incentivize states by increasing their federal Medicaid match by 5 percent and would require a MACPAC report on using bundled payments to reimburse healthcare providers with respect to pregnancy-related services furnished under state plans under title XIX. The bill passed the House on September 29, 2020.

H.R. 6132 – Social Determinants for Moms Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. McBath (D-GA) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would create a task force to coordinate efforts to address social determinants of health for women who are prenatal and postpartum.

H.R. 6137 – IMPACT to Save Moms Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) and 11 cosponsors, this bill requires CMS to establish the Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project and report on specified information relating to the continuity of coverage for pregnant and postpartum women under Medicaid and CHIP.

H.R. 6138 – Tech to Save Moms Act

• Introduced by Rep. Bernice (D-TX) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would provide investments in technology to improve maternal health outcomes, especially for underserved populations.

H.R. 6142 – Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Underwood (D-IL) and 39 cosponsors, this bill directs HHS and other agencies to address maternal health outcomes among minority populations.

H.R. 6143 – Moms MATTER Act of 2020 (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Kennedy (D-MA) and 7 cosponsors, this bill would establish the Maternal Mental and Behavioral Health Task Force and directs HHS to award grants to eligible health care entities to support innovating models of maternity care designed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

H.R. 6165 – Data to Save Moms Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Davids (D-KS) and 12 cosponsors, this bill improves data collection with respect to maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.

H.R. 6178 – EQUIP Act of 2020

• Introduced by Rep. Bonamici (D-OR) and 4 cosponsors, this bill requires the CDC to provide eligible health organizations with demonstration program grants to implement routing screenings about women’s pregnancy intentions in order to provide better contraceptive and pre-pregnancy care.

H.R. 6192 – Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act

• Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would provide improved care and protection to incarcerated mothers, including programs to address social determinants of health.

H.R. 7718 – Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act

• Introduced by Rep. Bass (D-CA) and 35 cosponsors, this bill would address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth. The bill passed by voice vote in the House on October 19, 2020 and moved to the Senate for consideration.

H.R. 5640 – Data Mapping to Save Mom’s Lives Act (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Reps. Butterfield (D-NC), Gianforte (R-MT), Brooks (R-IN), Kelly (D-IL), and Blunt Rochester (D-DE), this bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps.

H.R. 8958 – Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act (bipartisan)

• • Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-IL), Fudge (D-OH), Kelly (R-PA), and Latta (R-OH), this bill would require the Secretary of HHS to publish guidance for states on strategies for maternal care providers participating in the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such programs.

Senate

S. 916 – Mothers and Offspring Maternal and Morbidity Awareness Act (MOMMA’s) Act*

• Introduced by Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and 16 cosponsors, this bill would improve federal efforts for the prevention of maternal mortality by providing technical assistance to states, issuing best practices, supporting the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal, and establish regional centers of excellence.

S. 1343 – Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services (MOMMIES) Act)

• Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ), and seven cosponsors, this bill would extend Medicaid and CHIP benefits for low-income pregnant women and would establish a maternity care home demonstration project.

S. 1600 – Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies Act

• Introduced by Sen. Harris (D-CA) and 20 cosponsors, this bill would authorize HHS to award grants to health professional training programs for training that addresses implicit bias in the practice of gynecology and obstetrics. HHS is also directed to award grants to up to 10 states for pregnancy medical-home programs that reduce adverse outcomes and racial disparities.

S. 2373 – Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services Act (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Murkowski (R-AK), and eight cosponsors, this bill provides funding to HRSA to expand initiatives to address maternal health in rural areas.

S. 2586 – Maternal Outcomes Matter (MOM) Act of 2019 (bipartisan)

• Introduced by Sens. McSally (R-AZ) and Jones (D-AL), this bill would authorize HHS to make grants to entities to identify, develop or disseminate best practices to improve maternal healthcare quality and outcomes, eliminate preventable mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and improve infant health outcomes, including by addressing social determinants of health that impact maternal health outcomes.

S. 3424 – Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020*

• Introduced by Sen. Harris (D-CA) and 12 cosponsors, this bill directs HHS and other agencies to address maternal health outcomes among minority populations.

S.4859 – Connected Maternal Online Monitoring Services (MOM) Act

• Introduced by Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Hassan (D-NH), Young (R-IN), and Carper (D-DE), this bipartisan bill would require CMS to make recommendations for improving maternal and child health outcomes using remote physiologic monitoring devices and expanding coverage of such devices under Medicaid.

S. 4863 – Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long Term Health for Moms on Medicaid (HEALTH for MOM) Act

• Introduced by Sens. Portman (R-OH) and Stabenow (D-MI), this bipartisan bill would provide states the option to provide coordinated care through a pregnancy medical home for high-risk pregnant women.

S. 4949 – Supporting Best Practices for Health Moms Act

• Introduced by Sens. Toomey (R-PA) and Brown (D-OH), this bipartisan bill would require the Secretary of HHS to publish guidance for states on strategies for maternal care providers participating in the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such program.

S. 3152 – Data Mapping to Save Mom’s Lives Act (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Sen. Rosen (D-NV) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps. The bill passed the Senate on December 15, 2020.

S. 4980 – Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Act

• Introduced by Sen. King (I-ME), this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support research and programmatic efforts that will build on previous research on the effects of adverse childhood experiences.

House of Representatives

H.R. 1384 – Medicare for All Act of 2019

• Introduced by Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) and 118 cosponsors, this bill would require the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality of CMS to address health disparities by evaluating data collection approaches that allow for ongoing, accurate, and timely collection of data on disparities in health care services and performance on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, geography, disability, or socioeconomic status.

H.R. 1419 – Public Option Deficit Reduction Act

• Introduced by Rep. DeFazio (D-OR) and 4 cosponsors, this bill establishes a public health insurance option and requires the Secretary of HHS to create innovative payment mechanisms that seek to reduce health disparities.

H.R. 2000 – Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019*

• Introduced by Rep. Delgado (D-NY) and 26 cosponsors, this bill establishes a public health insurance option and requires the Secretary of HHS to create innovative payment mechanisms that seek to reduce health disparities.

H.R. 2452 – Medicare for America Act of 2019

• Introduced by Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) and 25 cosponsors, this bill would establish a Medicare for America health program to provide for comprehensive health coverage for all Americans and require the CDC and NIH to solicit a comprehensive, longitudinal study to evaluate any differential individual impact on coverage expansion based on race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or health status.

H.R. 5741– Strengthening Innovation in Medicare and Medicaid Act (Bipartisan)

• Introduced by Rep. Sewell (D-AL), this bill would clarify parameters for model testing and add accountability to model expansion under CMMI, including requiring CMMI to assess and track the impact of delivery and payment models on health disparities.

Senate

S. 981 – The Medicare X Choice Act of 2019*

• Introduced by Sen. Bennet (D-CO) and 11 cosponsors, this bill establishes a public health insurance option and requires the Secretary of HHS to create innovative payment mechanisms that seek to reduce health disparities.

S. 3116 – Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey Act of 2019 (bipartisan)*

• Introduced by Sens. Collins (R-ME) and Jones (D-AL) and three cosponsors, this bill would provide better access to whole genome sequencing clinical services for children under the Medicaid program, and requires reports by states to CMS on the extent to which whole genomic sequencing clinical services reduce health disparities.

S. 4944 – Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act

• Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ), the bill would improve access to care for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through models tested under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.