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

Sec. 4202. Border health grants

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Border area. The term border area means the United States-Mexico Border Area, as defined in section 8 of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n–6).

(2) Eligible entity. The term eligible entity means an entity that is located in the border area and is any of the following:

(A) A State, local government, or Tribal government.

(B) A public institution of higher education.

(C) A nonprofit health organization.

(D) A community health center.

(E) A community clinic that is a health center receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b).

(F) A nonprofit organization serving immigrants.

(b) Authorization. From funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (f), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary), in consultation with the United States members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, shall award grants to eligible entities to address priorities and recommendations to improve the health of border area residents that are established by—

(1) the United States members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission;

(2) the State border health offices; and

(3) the Secretary.

(c) Application. An eligible entity that desires a grant under subsection (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require and demonstrating the entity’s capacity to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to border area residents.

(d) Use of funds. An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds for—

(1) programs relating to—

(A) maternal and child health;

(B) primary care and preventative health;

(C) public health and public health infrastructure;

(D) musculoskeletal health and obesity;

(E) health education and promotion;

(F) oral health;

(G) mental and behavioral health;

(H) substance use disorders;

(I) health conditions that have a high prevalence in the border area;

(J) medical and health services research;

(K) workforce training and development;

(L) community health workers, patient navigators, and promotores;

(M) health care infrastructure problems in the border area (including planning and construction grants);

(N) health disparities in the border area;

(O) environmental health;

(P) outreach and enrollment services with respect to Federal programs (including programs authorized under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.));

(Q) end-of-life care; and

(R) addressing social determinants of health; and

(2) other programs determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(e) Supplement, not supplant. Amounts provided to an eligible entity awarded a grant under subsection (b) shall be used to supplement and not supplant other funds available to the eligible entity to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).

(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

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