EQUIP Act of 2023

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a demonstration program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention screening initiatives by health care and social service providers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2023 EQUIP Act of 2023 2. Pregnancy intention screening initiative demonstration program Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g et seq. 399V–8. Pregnancy intention screening initiative demonstration program (a) Program establishment The Secretary, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish a demonstration program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention screening initiatives by health care and social service providers. (b) Grants The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration program through awarding grants to eligible entities to implement pregnancy intention screening initiatives, collect data, and evaluate such initiatives. (c) Eligible Entities (1) In general An eligible entity under this section is an entity described in paragraph (2) that provides non-directive, comprehensive, medically accurate information. (2) Entities described For purposes of paragraph (1), an entity described in this paragraph— (A) is a community-based organization, voluntary health organization, public health department, community health center, or other interested public or private primary, behavioral, or other health care or social service provider or organization; and (B) does not include any crisis pregnancy center or other anti-abortion organization that presents itself as a comprehensive reproductive health care provider but has the intent of discouraging pregnant people from accessing abortion care. (d) Pregnancy intention screening initiative For purposes of this section, the term pregnancy intention screening initiative (e) Evaluation (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, by grant or contract, and after consultation as described in paragraph (2), conduct an evaluation of the demonstration program, with respect to pregnancy intention screening initiatives, conducted under this section. Such an evaluation shall include: (A) Assessment of the implementation of pregnancy intention screening protocols among a diverse group of patients and providers, including collecting data on the experiences and outcomes for diverse patient populations in a variety of clinical and social service settings. (B) Analysis of outcome measures that will facilitate effective and widespread adoption of such protocols by health care providers for inquiring about and responding to pregnancy and reproductive health goals of people with both contraceptive and pre-pregnancy care. (C) Consideration of health disparities among the populations served. (D) Assessment of the equitable and voluntary implementation of such initiatives to Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and other medically underserved communities. (E) Assessment of the training, capacity, and ongoing technical assistance needed for providers to effectively implement such pregnancy intention screening protocols. (F) Assessment of whether referral systems for selected protocols follow evidence-based standards that ensure access to comprehensive culturally competent and gender affirming health services and appropriate follow-up care. (G) Measuring through rigorous methods the effect of such initiatives on key health outcomes. (2) Cost study The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, by grant or contract, conduct a study assessing the time and cost for providers to administer pregnancy intention screening tools and provide related counseling in a diverse array of settings. (3) Consultation with independent experts In conducting any evaluation under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall consult with physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, nurse midwives, behavioral health providers, other health care providers who specialize in reproductive and sexual health, human services providers, and other experts in public health, clinical practice, program evaluation, and research. (4) Report Not later than one year after the last day of the demonstration program under this section, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation and study conducted under paragraphs (1) and (2) and shall make the report publicly available. (f) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. (2) Limitation Not more than 20 percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used for purposes of the evaluation under subsection (e). .

Summary: Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2023 or the EQUIP Act of 2023 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide eligible health organizations with demonstration program grants to implement routine screenings about people's pregnancy intentions in order to provide better contraceptive and prepregnancy care.