Addressing COVID-19 Health Disparities Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8067 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to conduct or support research related to the United States health care system’s response to COVID–19, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 18, 2020 Mr. BEYER (for himself, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, and Mrs. DINGELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to conduct or support research related to the United States health care system’s re- sponse to COVID–19, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Addressing COVID- 4 19 Health Disparities Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Sep 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8067.IH H8067 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8067 IH SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON UNITED STATES HEALTH CARE SYS- 1 TEM’S RESPONSE TO COVID–19. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 3 Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agen- 4 cy for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall conduct or 5 support research related to the United States health care 6 system’s response to COVID–19, including with respect 7 to— 8 (1) the expansion and efficacy of telehealth use, 9 including— 10 (A) identifying obstacles to access for vet- 11 erans, the elderly, and low-income communities; 12 (B) evaluating and identifying potential 13 gaps or other weaknesses that bear on racial 14 and ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection 15 rates, severity of symptoms, and outcomes; 16 (C) gaps in compliance with health care 17 privacy and security rules; and 18 (D) evaluate whether access to, or treat- 19 ment associated with, telemedicine and care de- 20 livered in different settings varied by racial and 21 ethnic group; and 22 (2) conducting and support rapid turnaround 23 research to— 24 (A) identify health care strategies that 25 help mitigate racial and ethnic disparities in 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Sep 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8067.IH H8067 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8067 IH COVID–19 infection rates, severity of symp- 1 toms, and outcomes; 2 (B) identify health care-related factors 3 contributing to such disparities racial and eth- 4 nic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, 5 hospitalizations, severity of disease, complica- 6 tions, and outcomes; 7 (C) provide recommendations on ensuring 8 equity in access to other health care interven- 9 tions, such as flu and pneumococcal pneumonia 10 vaccination, that may be advanced to mitigate 11 such disparities, going forward; 12 (D) identify deficiencies in the health care 13 system’s supply chain; and 14 (E) shortfalls in the health care delivery 15 planning, coordination, and capacity, including 16 health care delivery to vulnerable communities. 17 (b) PROTOCOLS ON COVID–19 DISPARITIES.—The 18 Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 19 the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and 20 Quality, shall coordinate cross-agency engagement with 21 leaders from racial and ethnic minority groups and other 22 populations disproportionately affected by COVID–19— 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Sep 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8067.IH H8067 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8067 IH (1) to develop protocols that ensure these 1 groups have timely access to safe and effective 2 COVID–19 vaccines; and 3 (2) to provide guidance on a COVID–19 vac- 4 cination strategy that takes into account racial and 5 ethnic disparities in COVID–19 infection rates, se- 6 verity of symptoms, and health outcomes. 7 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 8 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 9 $121,000,000, to remain available until expended. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Sep 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8067.IH H8067 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS