TREAT Long COVID Act

Bill: 117-s-4015
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2022-04-06
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government information and archives

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health programs administration and funding

Indian social and development programs

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Mental health

Minority health

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2022-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-04-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act or the TREAT Long COVID Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to create or expand the capacity of clinics that treat patients with persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 (i.e., Long COVID). Eligible recipients include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, urban Indian health centers, and state and local health departments.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4015 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 6, 2022 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Markey , and Mr. Kaine ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities for creating or enhancing capacity to treat patients with Long COVID through a multidisciplinary approach.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act or the TREAT Long COVID Act . 2. Grant program to support multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics (a) Establishment of program The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the purpose of creating or enhancing capacity to treat patients with Long COVID (also referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID–19 and post-COVID conditions) through a multidisciplinary approach. (b) Use of funds An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant, for the purpose described in subsection (a), to— (1) enhance the capacity of one or more existing multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics to serve the Long COVID population; or (2) create one or more multidisciplinary clinics to address the physical and mental health needs of Long COVID patients. (c) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a health care provider, Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) ), rural health clinic (as defined in such section), urban Indian health center, or State or local public health department, that— (1) (A) operates an existing multidisciplinary Long COVID clinic or other specialized Long COVID program; or (B) demonstrates an intent to create a multidisciplinary Long COVID clinic or other specialized Long COVID program; and (2) submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (d) Equitable access In order to ensure equitable access to treatment— (1) no grantee under this section shall deny access to treatment with respect to Long COVID based on insurance coverage, date or method of diagnosis, or previous hospitalization; (2) a grantee under this section shall with respect to Long COVID— (A) offer equity-centered resources, information, and training to safety net health systems; and (B) disseminate best practices and treatment approaches that enhance access to high-quality care to everyone where they live; and (3) treatment for Long COVID shall be included as a COVID–19 treatment, consistent with the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ). (e) Grant amount The amount of a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed $2,000,000. (f) Grant period The period of a grant under this section shall not exceed 3 years, with an opportunity for renewal. (g) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— (1) submit a plan to engage with medically underserved communities, and with populations disproportionately impacted by COVID–19, in a degree sufficient to advance health care equity in Long COVID treatment and outcomes; (2) demonstrate capacity (or an intent to build capacity) to facilitate patient access to multidisciplinary health care providers with expertise in treating Long COVID symptoms and other complex post-viral conditions, including such providers who are primary and specialty care physicians (such as physiatrists, neurologists, cardiologists, immunologists, and pulmonologists), therapists, nurses, care coordinators, social workers, nutritionists, and behavioral health specialists; and (3) submit a plan to ensure ongoing multidisciplinary continuing education on infection-triggered conditions for— (A) physicians treating Long COVID; and (B) other physicians and health care workers who are not treating Long COVID, but are otherwise serving patients in the community. (h) Reports (1) Annual reports by grantees to Secretary On an annual basis, a recipient of a grant under this section shall— (A) submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the activities carried out through the grant; and (B) include quantitative and qualitative evaluations of such activities, including the experience of individuals who received health care through such grant. (2) Annual reports by Secretary to Congress Not later than the last day of each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly available, a report that— (A) summarizes the reports received under paragraph (1); (B) evaluates the effectiveness of grants under this section; and (C) makes recommendations with respect to expanding coverage for clinical care for Long COVID. (i) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025.