AHEAD Act of 2020

To 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, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Assimilating Health and Equity Assessments into Decision-making of 2020 AHEAD Act of 2020 2. Study to assess the value of using tools to measure the impacts of proposed Federal legislation on health and health disparities (a) Study The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary (1) to examine 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; (2) to formulate recommendations on integrating such tools into the Federal legislative process to achieve better population health outcomes; (3) to formulate recommendations on how behavioral and nudge research on the health and equity effects of policies may translate into evaluative tools for policymakers; and (4) in consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to formulate recommendations on how such tools should be incorporated into the Federal legislative process. (b) Tools To be considered The tools considered under the study under subsection (a) shall include health impact assessments, and may include any other tools of analysis that analyze the potential impacts on health and health disparities of incorporating the findings of such reviews and analyses of proposed Federal legislation and accompanying budgetary scores. (c) Specific populations To be considered The study under subsection (a) shall consider the impacts described in such subsection on health and health disparities within specific populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g) (d) Congressional and regulatory process options The study under subsection (a) shall consider how assessments of potential population health outcomes could be incorporated into Federal legislative and regulatory processes, including by evaluating options with respect to— (1) methodological tools for evaluating evidentiary standards across multiple disciplines and the potential benefits and negative effects of a proposed policy; (2) the processes and considerations for preparing a population health outcomes report including time, resources, community consultation, and competencies required to review relevant scientific literature; (3) entities that conduct population health outcomes reports by comparing the experiences of State and local jurisdictions that have incorporated health impacts assessments in legislative or regulatory processes; and (4) potential uses of a population health outcomes report in the Federal legislative and regulatory processes. (e) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the study under subsection (a).

Summary: Assimilating Health and Equity Assessments into Decision-making of 2020 or AHEAD Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) to study, and make certain recommendations concerning, the use of health impact assessments or other tools to evaluate the effect of proposed federal legislation on health and health disparities. When developing recommendations to incorporate these tools into the federal legislative process, the National Academies must consult with the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service.