Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4819
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2020-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Allied health services
American Samoa
Appropriations
Assault and harassment offenses
Birth defects
Blood and blood diseases
Border security and unlawful immigration
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Census and government statistics
Child care and development
Child health
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Dental care
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure
Family planning and birth control
Family relationships
Firearms and explosives
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Guam
Gulf of Mexico
HIV/AIDS
Hawaii
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hereditary and development disorders
Higher education
Hospital care
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Immunology and vaccination
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Inflation and prices
Intergovernmental relations
Labor standards
Marshall Islands
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical ethics
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Mental health
Micronesia
Minority education
Minority health
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Northern Mariana Islands
Oceania
Palau
Prescription drugs
Puerto Rico
Racial and ethnic relations
Radiation
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Sales and excise taxes
Sex and reproductive health
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sexually transmitted diseases
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Surgery and anesthesia
Teaching, teachers, curricula
U.S. territories and protectorates
Violent crime
Virgin Islands
Visas and passports
Women's health
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: 

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others to undertake efforts to reduce health disparities.
 
For example, the bill (1) requires more detailed reporting of demographic and health disparities data, (2) directs certain components of HHS to support health workforce diversity, and (3) increases access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care.
 
The bill also modifies eligibility and other requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, and other programs to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations. The bill includes specific provisions with respect to noncitizens; maternal, infant, and child health; mental and behavioral health; and specified conditions that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, such as certain cancers, HIV/AIDs, kidney disease, and diabetes.
 
Additionally, the bill (1) revises health information technology programs to address health disparities; (2) establishes an Office of Health Disparities within HHS, as well as civil rights compliance offices within HHS agencies; and (3) supports health impact assessments and other efforts pertaining to environmental justice and social determinants of health. 

 
The Government Accountability Office must report on health workforce diversity and other specified issues related to health care and health disparities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6331-6332)
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate