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

Sec. 3006. Scholarship and fellowship programs

Subtitle B of title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 3001, is further amended by inserting after section 3417 the following:

Text this section adds to the law

3418. David Satcher Public Health and Health Services Corps

(a) In general. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants to eligible entities to increase awareness among secondary and postsecondary students of career opportunities in the health professions.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1) be a clinical, public health, or health services organization, community-based or nonprofit entity, or other entity determined appropriate by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(2) serve a health professional shortage area, as determined by the Secretary;

(3) work with students, including those from racial and ethnic minority groups, that have expressed an interest in the health professions; and

(4) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Use of funds. Grant awards under subsection (a) shall be used to support internships that will increase awareness among students of non-research-based, career opportunities in the following health professions:

(1) Medicine.

(2) Nursing.

(3) Public health.

(4) Pharmacy.

(5) Health administration and management.

(6) Health policy.

(7) Psychology.

(8) Dentistry.

(9) International health.

(10) Social work.

(11) Allied health.

(12) Psychiatry.

(13) Hospice care.

(14) Community health, patient navigation, and peer support.

(15) Other professions determined appropriate by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(d) Priority. In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall give priority to those entities that—

(1) serve a high proportion of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds;

(2) have experience in health disparity elimination programs;

(3) facilitate the entry of disadvantaged individuals into institutions of higher education; and

(4) provide counseling or other services designed to assist disadvantaged individuals in successfully completing their education at the postsecondary level.

(e) Stipends

(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (2), an entity receiving a grant under this section may use the funds made available through such grant to award stipends for educational and living expenses to students participating in the internship supported by the grant.

(2) Limitations. A stipend awarded under paragraph (1) to an individual—

(A) may not be provided for a period that exceeds 6 months; and

(B) may not exceed $50 per day for an individual (notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the amount of a stipend).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

3419. Louis Stokes Public Health Scholars Program

(a) In general. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award scholarships to eligible individuals under subsection (b) who seek a career in public health.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a scholarship under subsection (a), an individual shall—

(1) have interest, knowledge, or skill in public health research or public health practice, or other health professions as determined appropriate by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(2) reside in a health professional shortage area as determined by the Secretary;

(3) demonstrate promise for becoming a leader in public health;

(4) secure admission to a 4-year institution of higher education; and

(5) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Use of funds. Amounts received under an award under subsection (a) shall be used to support opportunities for students to become public health professionals.

(d) Priority. In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Director shall give priority to those students that—

(1) are from disadvantaged backgrounds;

(2) have secured admissions to an institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and

(3) have identified a health professional as a mentor at their institution described in subsection (b)(4) and an academic advisor to assist in the completion of their baccalaureate degree.

(e) Scholarships. The Secretary may approve payment of scholarships under this section for such individuals for any period of education in student undergraduate tenure, except that such a scholarship may not be provided to an individual for more than 4 years, and such a scholarship may not exceed $20,000 per academic year for an individual (notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the amount of a scholarship).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

3420. Patsy Mink Health and Gender Research Fellowship Program

(a) In general. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and the Director of the Indian Health Service, shall award research fellowships to eligible individuals under subsection (b) to conduct research that will examine gender and health disparities and to pursue a career in the health professions.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a fellowship under subsection (a), an individual shall—

(1) have experience in health research or public health practice;

(2) reside in a health professional shortage area designated by the Secretary under section 332;

(3) have expressed an interest in the health professions;

(4) demonstrate promise for becoming a leader in the field of women’s sexual and reproductive health, including family planning;

(5) secure admission to a health professions school or graduate program with an emphasis in gender studies; and

(6) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Use of funds. A fellowship awarded under subsection (a) to an eligible individual under subsection (b) shall be used to support an opportunity for the individual to become a researcher and advance the research base on the intersection between gender and health.

(d) Priority. In awarding fellowships under subsection (a), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall give priority to those applicants that—

(1) are from disadvantaged backgrounds; and

(2) have identified a mentor and academic advisor who will assist in the completion of their graduate or professional degree and have secured a research assistant position with a researcher working in the area of gender and health.

(e) Fellowships. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may approve fellowships for individuals under this section for any period of education in the student’s graduate or health profession tenure, except that such a fellowship may not be provided to an individual for more than 3 years, and such a fellowship may not exceed $25,000 per academic year for an individual (notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the amount of a fellowship).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

3421. Paul David Wellstone International Health Fellowship Program

(a) In general. The Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in collaboration with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award research fellowships to eligible individuals under subsection (b) to advance their understanding of international health.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a fellowship under subsection (a), an individual shall—

(1) have educational experience in the field of international health;

(2) reside in a health professional shortage area as determined by the Secretary;

(3) demonstrate promise for becoming a leader in the field of international health;

(4) be in the fourth year of a 4-year institution of higher education or a recent graduate of a 4-year institution of higher education; and

(5) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Use of funds. A fellowship awarded under subsection (a) to an eligible individual under subsection (b) shall be used to support an opportunity for the individual to become a health professional and to advance the knowledge of the individual about international issues relating to health care access and quality.

(d) Priority. In awarding fellowships under subsection (a), the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall give priority to eligible individuals under subsection (b) that—

(1) are from a disadvantaged background; and

(2) have identified a mentor at a health professions school or institution, an academic advisor to assist in the completion of their graduate or professional degree, and an advisor from an international health non-governmental organization, private volunteer organization, or other international institution or program that focuses on increasing health care access and quality for residents in developing countries.

(e) Fellowships. A fellowship awarded under this section may not—

(1) be provided to an eligible individual for more than a period of 6 months;

(2) be awarded to a graduate of a 4-year institution of higher education that has not been enrolled in such institution for more than 1 year; or

(3) exceed $8,000 per academic year (notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the amount of a fellowship).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

3422. Edward R. Roybal Health Scholar Program

(a) In general. The Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in collaboration with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants to eligible entities under subsection (b) to expose entering graduate students to the health professions.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1) be a clinical, public health, or health services organization, community-based, academic, or nonprofit entity, or other entity determined appropriate by the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;

(2) serve in a health professional shortage area designated by the Secretary under section 332;

(3) work with students obtaining a degree in the health professions; and

(4) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Use of funds. Amounts received under a grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be used to support opportunities that expose students to non-research-based health professions, including—

(1) public health policy;

(2) health care and pharmaceutical policy;

(3) health care administration and management;

(4) health economics; and

(5) other professions determined appropriate by the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

(d) Priority. In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in collaboration with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall give priority to entities that—

(1) have experience with health disparity elimination programs;

(2) facilitate training in the fields described in subsection (c); and

(3) provide counseling or other services designed to assist students in successfully completing their education at the postsecondary level.

(e) Stipends

(1) In general. Subject to paragraph (2), an entity receiving a grant under this section may use the funds made available through such grant to award stipends for educational and living expenses to students participating in the opportunities supported by the grant.

(2) Limitations. A stipend awarded under paragraph (1) to an individual—

(A) may not be provided for a period that exceeds 2 months; and

(B) may not exceed $100 per day (notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the amount of a stipend).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

3423. Leadership fellowship programs

(a) In general. The Secretary shall award grants to national minority medical or health professional associations to develop leadership fellowship programs for underrepresented health professionals in order to—

(1) assist such professionals in becoming future leaders in public health and health care delivery institutions; and

(2) increase diversity in decision-making positions that can improve the health of underserved communities.

(b) Use of funds. A leadership fellowship program supported under this section shall—

(1) focus on training mid-career physicians and health care executives who have documented leadership experience and a commitment to public health services in underserved communities; and

(2) support Federal public health policy and budget programs, and priorities that impact health equity, through activities such as didactic lectures and leader site visits.

(c) Period of grants. The period during which payments are made under a grant awarded under subsection (a) may not exceed 3 years.

(d) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

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

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