I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8839 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance 
to States on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital 
syphilis under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 26, 2024 
Ms. CARAVEO (for herself, Mr. CISCOMANI, Ms. NORTON, Ms. CLARKE of New 
York, Mr. CARSON, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to issue guidance to States on best practices for screen-
ing and treatment of congenital syphilis under Medicaid 
and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maternal and Infant 
Syphilis Prevention Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) In 2022, there were 207,255 total syphilis 
cases in the United States, representing an 80 per-
cent increase since 2018 and continuing a decades- 
long upward trend. 
(2) Untreated, syphilis can seriously damage 
the heart and brain and can cause blindness, deaf-
ness, and paralysis. 
(3) The increased rise in syphilis cases is caus-
ing the rise in congenital syphilis with more than 
3,700 cases documented among newborns in 2022, 
more than 10 times the number diagnosed in 2012. 
(4) When transmitted during pregnancy, con-
genital syphilis can cause miscarriage, lifelong med-
ical issues, and infant death. Congenital syphilis can 
present health issues for babies at birth, including 
neonatal death, meningitis, anemia, and problems 
with the spleen and liver. If not treated, congenital 
syphilis can cause bone and joint problems, vision 
and hearing problems, issues with the nervous sys-
tem, and developmental delays. 
(5) High incidence rates of congenital syphilis 
are often due to lack of timely testing or inadequate 
treatment during pregnancy. Timely syphilis testing 
and treatment during pregnancy might be able to 
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prevent almost 90 percent of congenital syphilis 
cases. 
(6) Requirements for syphilis screening among 
pregnant women varies by State. The majority of 
States require syphilis screening in the first visit, 
significantly less States require syphilis screenings 
during the third trimester or at delivery. 
(7) Screening during the third trimester and at 
delivery can lead to earlier detection of congenital 
syphilis and prevent adverse health outcomes for 
mothers and newborn infants. 
(8) Increased awareness and education are crit-
ical in reducing syphilis among pregnant women to 
prevent congenital syphilis. 
SEC. 3. GUIDANCE TO STATES AND TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE UNDER MEDICAID AND CHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
issue guidance to State Medicaid agencies on best prac-
tices with respect to actions that States may take, includ-
ing by using waivers under section 1115 of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) and authorities under title 
XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and title XXI 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.), for the following 
purposes: 
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(1) Improving access to expand syphilis screen-
ing for pregnant women and babies. 
(2) Best practices for educating medical profes-
sionals and pregnant women with respect to syphilis. 
(3) Strategies for integrating telehealth services 
and training for providers and patients on the use 
of telehealth, including working with interpreters to 
furnish health services and providing resources with 
respect to congenital syphilis in multiple languages. 
(4) Best practices for increasing testing for 
syphilis in the third trimester and at delivery. 
(5) Improving treatment for syphilis and con-
genital syphilis. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MEDICAID.—The term ‘‘Medicaid’’ means 
the program established under title XIX of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 1101(a)(1) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) for pur-
poses of titles XIX and XXI of such Act. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
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shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and 
shall make publicly available, a report analyzing the imple-
mentation by States of the best practices described in sub-
section (a). 
Æ 
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