S 4819 · 116th Congress 2019–2021, ended

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020

Latest action · Oct 20, 2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6331-6332)

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedOct 20, 2020
  2. Passed SenateNot reached
  3. Passed HouseNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others to undertake efforts to reduce health disparities.

For example, the bill (1) requires more detailed reporting of demographic and health disparities data, (2) directs certain components of HHS to support health workforce diversity, and (3) increases access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care.

The bill also modifies eligibility and other requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, and other programs to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations. The bill includes specific provisions with respect to noncitizens; maternal, infant, and child health; mental and behavioral health; and specified conditions that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, such as certain cancers, HIV/AIDs, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Additionally, the bill (1) revises health information technology programs to address health disparities; (2) establishes an Office of Health Disparities within HHS, as well as civil rights compliance offices within HHS agencies; and (3) supports health impact assessments and other efforts pertaining to environmental justice and social determinants of health.

The Government Accountability Office must report on health workforce diversity and other specified issues related to health care and health disparities.

Cosponsors 8

Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Oct 20, 2020.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-MDBenjamin L. CardinOriginalOct 20, 2020
I-VTBernard SandersOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-NJCory A. BookerOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-ORJeff MerkleyOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-NYKirsten E. GillibrandOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-CTRichard BlumenthalOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-ILTammy DuckworthOriginalOct 20, 2020
D-VATim KaineOriginalOct 20, 2020

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
SenateFinance Committee
Referred Oct 20, 2020

Actions 2

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Oct 20, 2020Introduced in Senate
  2. Oct 20, 2020Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6331-6332)

In the Congressional Record 1

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
SenateDebate and remarks S6331Mazie K. Hirono D-HIOct 20, 2020

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

CRS reports 1

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

Cite it 1

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Related bills 18

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HR 1109Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020Related billSep 30, 2020
HR 1897MOMMA’s ActRelated billMar 28, 2019
HR 2584To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the scoring of preventive health savings.Related billMay 8, 2019
HR 2701Youth Access to Sexual Health Services Act of 2019Related billMay 15, 2019
HR 2720Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2019Related billMay 15, 2019

Titles 16

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
A bill to improve the health of minority individuals, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020
Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act
National Prostate Cancer Plan Act
Prostate Cancer Detection Research and Education Act
PRIME Act of 2020
Prostate Research, Imaging, and Men’s Education Act of 2020
PROSTATE Act
Prostate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access, and Treatment Effectiveness Act of 2020
Immigrants’ Mental Health Act of 2020
Rural MOMS Act
Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services Act
MOMMA’s Act
Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act
Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disorders Health Disparities Act
End Tuberculosis Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Health.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Oct 20, 2020Introduced in Senate

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.