H.R. 9877

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsor: Raul Ruiz

26 cosponsors
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I Data collection and reporting

II Culturally and linguistically appropriate health and health care

III Health workforce diversity

A Diversifying the health care workplace

B Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Behavioral and Mental Health Workforce

C ACCESS in Mental Health Act

D Developing the Community Health Workforce Act

IV Improving Health Care Access and Quality

A Reducing Barriers to Accessing Care

B Improvement of Coverage

C Expansion of Access

1 General Provisions

2 Rural

3 Indian Communities

4 Providers

5 Dental

D Advancing Health Equity Through Payment and Delivery Reform

E Health Empowerment Zones

F Equitable Health Care for All

G Investing in Equity

H Miscellaneous

I Territories Health Equity

1 Medicare

A Part A

B Part B

C Medicare Advantage (Part C)

D Part D

2 Miscellaneous

V Improving health outcomes for women, gender-diverse people, children, and families

A Underserved communities

B Pregnancy screening

C Pregnancy-Related care

D Federal agency coordination on maternal health

E Reproductive and Sexual Health

F Children’s Health

Sec. 5501. CARING for Kids Act

(a) Permanent extension of Children’s Health Insurance Program

(1) In general. Section 2104(a)(28) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(a)(28)) is amended to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

(28) for fiscal year 2029 and each subsequent year, such sums as are necessary to fund allotments to States under subsections (c) and (m).

(2) Allotments

(A) In general. Section 2104(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(m)) is amended—

(i) in paragraph (2)(B)—

(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking through (27) and inserting through (28); and

(II) in clause (i), by striking 2023, and 2029 and inserting and 2023;

(ii) in paragraph (7)—

(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking and ending with fiscal year 2029,; and

(II) in the flush left matter at the end, by striking fiscal year 2026, or fiscal year 2028 and inserting fiscal year 2026, or a subsequent even-numbered fiscal year;

(iii) in paragraph (9)—

(I) by striking (10), or (11) and inserting or (10); and

(II) by striking 2023, or 2029, and inserting or 2023; and

(iv) by striking paragraph (11).

(B) Conforming amendment. Section 50101(b)(2) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–123) is repealed.

(b) Permanent extensions of other programs and demonstration projects

(1) Pediatric quality measures program. Section 1139A(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–9a(i)(1)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(F) for a subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) over such previous fiscal year, for the purpose of carrying out this section (other than subsections (e), (f), and (g)).

(2) Express lane eligibility option. Section 1902(e)(13) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(13)) is amended by striking subparagraph (I).

(3) Assurance of affordability standard for children and families

(A) In general. Section 2105(d)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(d)(3)) is amended—

(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking through September 30, 2029; and

(ii) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(I) by striking During the period that begins on the date of enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and ends on September 30, 2029 and inserting Beginning on the date of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;

(II) by striking During the period that begins on October 1, 2019, and ends on September 30, 2029 and inserting Beginning on October 1, 2019; and

(III) by striking The preceding sentences shall not be construed as preventing a State during any such periods from and inserting The preceding sentences shall not be construed as preventing a State from.

(B) Conforming amendments. Section 1902(gg)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(gg)(2)) is amended—

(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking through September 30, 2029; and

(ii) by striking through September 30 and all that follows through ends on September 30, 2029 and inserting (but beginning on October 1, 2019.

(4) Qualifying states option. Section 2105(g)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(g)(4)) is amended—

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking for fiscal years 2009 through 2029 and inserting after fiscal year 2008; and

(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking for any of fiscal years 2009 through 2029 and inserting for any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008.

(5) Outreach and enrollment program. Section 2113 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397mm) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking during the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2029 and inserting , beginning with fiscal year 2009,;

(ii) in paragraph (2)—

(I) by striking 10 percent of such amounts and inserting 10 percent of such amounts for the period or the fiscal year for which such amounts are appropriated; and

(II) by striking during such period and inserting , during such period or such fiscal year,; and

(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking For the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2029, an amount equal to 10 percent of such amounts and inserting Beginning with fiscal year 2024, an amount equal to 10 percent of such amounts for the period or the fiscal year for which such amounts are appropriated; and

(B) in subsection (g)—

(i) by striking and $40,000,000 and inserting $40,000,000; and

(ii) by inserting after fiscal years 2028 and 2029, the following: $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2030, and, for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2030, the amount appropriated under this subsection for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) over such previous fiscal year,.

(6) Child enrollment contingency fund. Section 2104(n) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(n)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii)—

(I) by striking and 2024 through 2028 and inserting and for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2023; and

(II) by striking 2023, and 2029 and inserting and 2023; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) by striking 2024 through 2028 and inserting and for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2023; and

(II) by striking 2023, and 2029 and inserting and 2023; and

(B) in paragraph (3)(A)—

(i) by striking fiscal years 2024 through 2028 and inserting a fiscal year after fiscal year 2023; and

(ii) by striking 2023, or 2027 and inserting or 2023.

G Elder Care

H Miscellaneous provisions

VI Mental health and substance use disorders

A Access to care and funding streams

B Interprofessional care

C Workforce development

D Children’s mental health

E Community-Based care

F Reports

G Miscellaneous provisions

VII Addressing high-impact minority diseases

A Cancer

B Viral hepatitis and liver cancer control and prevention

C Acquired bone marrow failure diseases

D Cardiovascular disease, chronic disease, obesity, and other disease issues

E HIV/AIDS

F Diabetes

G Lung disease

H Tuberculosis

I Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases

J Sleep and circadian rhythm disorders

K Kidney disease research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment

L Diversity in clinical trials

M Additional provisions addressing high-impact minority diseases

N Health Equity and Rare Disease Act

O Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention

P New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease

VIII Health Information Technology

A Reducing Health Disparities Through Health IT

B Modifications To Achieve Parity in Existing Programs

C Additional Research and Studies

D Closing Gaps in Funding To Adopt Certified EHRs

E Expanding Access to Telehealth Services

IX Accountability and Evaluation

X Addressing Social Determinants and Improving Environmental Justice

A In General

B Gun Violence

C Nutrition for women, children, families

1 Senior hunger prevention

2 Closing the meal gap

D Universal school meals

1 School breakfast program

2 School lunch program

3 Elementary and secondary education data

4 Amendments to other programs and laws

XI Protections to combat regulatory harm to health equity