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S. 3073

Referred to Committee

Equal Health Care for All Act

Introduced 10/26/2021•117th Congress•Senate

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

10/26/2021 • Senate

Summary

Equal Health Care for All Act

This bill prohibits discrimination in health care based on race, religion, and other characteristics. It also revises reporting requirements, adds equity-related measures to certain Medicare programs, and makes other changes to reduce health disparities.

To enforce the prohibition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish an administrative process to resolve complaints about inequitable health care. HHS must investigate these complaints and mediate agreements to resolve issues. In the event of noncompliance with a mediated agreement, an aggrieved individual may bring a civil action.

Health care providers must also report data in formats that allow disaggregation by demographic factors. HHS must issue proposed regulations to carry out this requirement within 90 days.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must include measures related to equitable health care in the Medicare value-based purchasing program for hospitals. This program provides incentive payments based on quality of care. The CMS may also exclude providers that furnish inequitable health care from its programs.

In addition, the bill establishes the Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation of the bill and establishes a grant program for hospitals to promote equitable health care.

Introduced in Senate • 10/26/2021

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Topics & Subjects

Policy Area: Health
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvisory bodiesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDisability and health-based discriminationExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth programs administration and fundingHospital careLicensing and registrationsMedicaidMedicare

Congressional Votes (0)

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Related Federal Spending

Sponsor & Cosponsors (1)

Sponsor

S[
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Democrat • CA

Sponsored 10/26/2021

No cosponsors yet

Cosponsors may be added as the bill moves through Congress

Bill Journey

Originated in the Senate

Introduced

October 26, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committee Review

Floor Debate

Passed Chamber

Other Chamber

President

Enacted into Law

Text Versions (1)

Introduced in Senate10/26/2021

Details

Bill TypeS
Current StatusReferred to Committee
Cosponsors0