Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Act

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to conduct or support research related to the United States health care system’s response to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Act 2. Research on United States health care system’s response to COVID–19 (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall conduct or support research related to the United States health care system’s response to COVID–19, including with respect to— (1) the expansion and efficacy of telehealth use, including— (A) identifying obstacles to access for veterans, the elderly, and low-income communities; (B) evaluating and identifying potential gaps or other weaknesses that bear on racial and ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, severity of symptoms, and outcomes; (C) gaps in compliance with health care privacy and security rules; and (D) evaluate whether access to, or treatment associated with, telemedicine and care delivered in different settings varied by racial and ethnic group; and (2) conducting and support rapid turnaround research to— (A) identify health care strategies that help mitigate racial and ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, severity of symptoms, and outcomes; (B) identify health care-related factors contributing to such disparities racial and ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, hospitalizations, severity of disease, complications, and outcomes; (C) provide recommendations on ensuring equity in access to other health care interventions, such as flu and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination, that may be advanced to mitigate such disparities, going forward; (D) identify deficiencies in the health care system’s supply chain; and (E) shortfalls in the health care delivery planning, coordination, and capacity, including health care delivery to vulnerable communities. (b) Protocols on COVID–19 disparities The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall coordinate cross-agency engagement with leaders from racial and ethnic minority groups and other populations disproportionately affected by COVID–19— (1) to develop protocols that ensure these groups have timely access to safe and effective COVID–19 vaccines; and (2) to provide guidance on a COVID–19 vaccination strategy that takes into account racial and ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, severity of symptoms, and health outcomes. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $121,000,000, to remain available until expended.

Summary: Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Act This bill requires the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to research the U.S. health care system's response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), including by identifying health care-related factors that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and strategies to mitigate those factors. In addition, AHRQ must develop vaccine protocols and strategies in consultation with leaders from populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to ensure that such groups have timely access to vaccines.