Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5561 | Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie, Brett (R-KY)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 various activities carried out by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders that support screening and early intervention services for newborns, infants, and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Government Accountability Office must also conduct a study of state early hearing detection and intervention programs, including with respect to disparities in accessing the programs.

To reauthorize a program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment 
    regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young 
                   children, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Early Hearing Detection and 
Intervention Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM FOR EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND 
              TREATMENT REGARDING DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING NEWBORNS, 
              INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN.

    Section 399M(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-
1(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$17,818,000 for fiscal 
        year 2018, $18,173,800 for fiscal year 2019, $18,628,145 for 
        fiscal year 2020, $19,056,592 for fiscal year 2021, and 
        $19,522,758 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting ``$17,818,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$10,800,000 for fiscal 
        year 2018, $11,026,800 for fiscal year 2019, $11,302,470 for 
        fiscal year 2020, $11,562,427 for fiscal year 2021, and 
        $11,851,488 for fiscal year 2022'' and inserting ``$16,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fiscal years 2011 
        through 2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026''.

SEC. 3. GAO STUDY ON STATE EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION 
              PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study reviewing State early hearing detection and 
intervention (in this section referred to as ``EHDI'') programs. Such 
study shall--
            (1) analyze how information collected through such programs 
        informs what is known about EHDI activities to ensure that 
        newborns, infants, and young children have access to timely 
        hearing screenings and early interventions, including 
        information on any disparities in such access;
            (2) analyze what is known about how parents use State EHDI 
        websites to seek health and programmatic guidance related to 
        their child's hearing loss diagnosis; and
            (3) identify efforts and any promising practices of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health 
        Resources and Services Administration, the National Institute 
        on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and State EHDI 
        programs--
                    (A) to address disparities in outreach for, or 
                access to, timely hearing screenings and early 
                interventions; and
                    (B) to ensure that EHDI follow-up services are 
                communicated and made available to medically 
                underserved populations, including racial and ethnic 
                minorities.
    (b) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) complete the study under subsection (a) and submit a 
        report on the results of the study to--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                Pensions of the Senate; and
            (2) make such report publicly available.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.