H.R. 9877

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsor: Raul Ruiz

26 cosponsors
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I Data collection and reporting

Sec. 1003. Collection of data for the Medicare program

Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

1150D. Collection of data for the Medicare program

(a) Requirement

(1) In general. The Commissioner of Social Security (in this section referred to as the Commissioner), in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (in this section referred to as the Administrator), shall collect data on the race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, age, and disability status of all applicants for social security benefits under title II or Medicare benefits under title XVIII.

(2) Data collection standards

(A) In general. In collecting data under paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall at least use the standards for data collection developed under section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk) or the standards developed by the Office of Management and Budget, as the baseline standard, consistent with the Office of Management and Budget Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, or any successor Office of Management and Budget directive.

(B) No standards available. In the event there are no standards for the demographic groups listed under paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall consult with stakeholder groups representing the various identities as well as with the Office of Minority Health within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop appropriate standards.

(3) Data for additional population groups. Where practicable, the data collected by the Commissioner under paragraph (1) shall include data for additional population groups if such groups can be aggregated into the race and ethnicity categories outlined by the data collection standards described in paragraph (2)(A).

(4) Collection of data for minors and legally incapacitated individuals. With respect to the collection of the data described in paragraph (1) of applicants who are under 18 years of age or otherwise legally incapacitated, the Commissioner shall require that—

(A) such data be collected from the parent or legal guardian of such an applicant; and

(B) the primary language of the parent or legal guardian of such an applicant or recipient be used in collecting the data.

(5) Quality of data. The Commissioner shall periodically review the quality and completeness of the data collected under paragraph (1) and make adjustments as necessary to improve both.

(6) Transmission of data. Upon enrollment for Medicare benefits under title XVIII, the Commissioner shall transmit the demographic data of an individual as collected under paragraph (1) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

(7) Analysis and reporting of data. With respect to the data transmitted under paragraph (6), the Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall—

(A) require that such data be uniformly analyzed and that such analysis be reported at least annually to Congress;

(B) incorporate such data in other analysis and reporting on health disparities and the provision of inequitable health care services by a health care provider, as appropriate;

(C) make such data available to researchers, under the protections outlined in paragraph (8);

(D) provide opportunities to individuals enrolled for Medicare benefits under title XVIII to submit updated data;

(E) ensure that the provision of assistance or benefits to an applicant, or their relatives, is not denied or otherwise adversely affected because of the failure of the applicant to provide any of the data collected under paragraph (1); and

(F) ensure that the provision of assistance or benefit to an applicant or their relatives is not denied or otherwise adversely affected because of the content of the data provided by the applicant, except where it is required by law.

(8) Protection of data. The Commissioner shall ensure (through the promulgation of regulations or otherwise) that all data collected pursuant to paragraph (1) is protected—

(A) under the same privacy protections as the Secretary applies to health data under the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (relating to the privacy of individually identifiable health information and other protections); and

(B) from all inappropriate internal use by any entity that collects, stores, or receives the data, including use of such data in determinations of eligibility (or continued eligibility) in health plans, and from other inappropriate uses, as defined by the Secretary.

(b) Rule of construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the use of information collected under this section in a manner that would adversely affect any individual providing any such information.

(c) Technical assistance. The Secretary may, either directly or by grant or contract, provide technical assistance to enable any entity to comply with the requirements of this section or with regulations implementing this section.

(d) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $100,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.

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

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