H.R. 9877

Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsor: Raul Ruiz

26 cosponsors
Follow this bill

Official summary

No official summary yet.

Text of the bill

Expand all

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

Sec. 3043. Expanding hospital and FQHC partnerships for graduate medical education

(a) Payments to teaching health centers

(1) In general. Section 340H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting , or that have in effect a covered agreement with a sponsoring institution so listed, after relevant accrediting body; and

(B) in subsection (j), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(5) Covered agreement. The term covered agreement means a written contract, memorandum of understanding, or other written agreement entered into for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of conducting an approved graduate medical residency training program.

(2) Effective date. The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to expenses incurred on or after October 1, 2027.

(b) Medicare GME cap. Section 1886(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4)(F)(i), by striking and (10) and inserting (10), and (11); and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(11) Training programs at Federally qualified health centers

(A) In general. For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2027, in the case of a hospital that has an approved medical residency training program where a significant portion of such program occurs at a Federally qualified health center (as determined by the Secretary), the Secretary shall increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for such hospital by 3 full-time equivalent residency positions.

(B) Definitions. In this paragraph:

(i) Otherwise applicable resident limit. The term otherwise applicable resident limit means, with respect to a hospital, the limit otherwise applicable under subparagraphs (F)(i) and (H) of paragraph (4) on the resident level for the hospital determined without regard to this paragraph but taking into account subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (7), subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (8), and paragraphs (9)(A) and (10)(A).

(ii) Resident level. The term resident level has the meaning given such term in paragraph (7)(C)(i).

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