Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

This comprehensive bill, known as the "Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026," seeks to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity for minority individuals and underserved populations across the United States. It proposes a multi-faceted approach encompassing data, workforce, access, and targeted interventions, recognizing that health outcomes are shaped by a wide array of social, economic, and environmental factors. Title I focuses on data collection and reporting , mandating the disaggregation of health data by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, and socioeconomic status in federally supported programs, including Medicare. It establishes a Commission on Ensuring Data for Health Equity and a Task Force on Preventing Bias in AI and Algorithms to improve data quality and address algorithmic discrimination. Title II emphasizes culturally and linguistically appropriate health and healthcare . It requires federal agencies and recipients of federal funds to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) through language assistance services, translated materials, and trained bilingual staff. The bill establishes the Robert T. Matsui Center for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Care and provides grants for innovative programs and medical interpreting services. Title III addresses health workforce diversity by establishing a National Working Group and a Technical Clearinghouse on workforce diversity. It offers grants to minority-serving institutions, loan repayment programs, and scholarships to increase representation of underrepresented groups in health professions, including mental and behavioral health, and supports career development for non-research health professionals. Title IV aims to improve healthcare access and quality . It includes provisions to reduce barriers for immigrants by removing citizenship documentation requirements for Medicaid and expanding ACA subsidies. It also extends Medicaid and CHIP coverage in U.S. territories, expands SSI to Puerto Rico and other territories, and introduces Medicare coverage for dental services and remote monitoring pilot projects. Title V focuses on improving health outcomes for women, gender-diverse people, children, and families . It mandates Medicaid and CHIP coverage for oral health services for pregnant and postpartum individuals, extends continuous coverage, and provides grants for doula services and rural obstetric mobile health units. It also includes provisions for emergency contraception access, comprehensive sex education, and addresses menstrual equity. Title VI tackles mental health and substance use disorders , expanding Medicare coverage for substance use disorder counselors and peer support specialists. It reauthorizes the Minority Fellowship Program, increases funding for NIH and NIMHD, and provides grants to enhance access to trauma support and mental health care in BIPOC communities. The bill also supports school-based mental health services and early intervention for transition-age youth. Title VII addresses high-impact minority diseases , including cancer (lung, prostate, breast, cervical, stomach), viral hepatitis, acquired bone marrow failure diseases, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, lung disease (asthma, COPD), tuberculosis, musculoskeletal diseases, and sleep disorders. It mandates research, screening, prevention, and treatment initiatives tailored to minority populations. Title VIII promotes health information technology (Health IT) to reduce disparities. It directs HRSA to assist health centers in adopting and using certified EHR technology, assesses the impact of Health IT on minority communities, and ensures nondiscrimination and language access in Health IT systems. It also extends Medicaid EHR incentive payments to additional facility types and expands telehealth services. Title IX focuses on accountability and evaluation , prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted health programs based on various protected characteristics, including sex, race, and disability. It elevates the Office for Civil Rights to the Office for Civil Rights and Health Equity, establishes a Federal Health Equity Commission, and mandates GAO and NIH reports on diversity and health disparities. Title X addresses social determinants and environmental justice . It establishes a grant program for environmental health improvement activities, mandates health impact assessments for proposed policies affecting the built environment, and creates an Environmental Justice Mapping Committee. It also includes provisions on gun violence research, nutrition programs (SNAP, school meals), and aims to correct harmful language in government expression. Finally, Title XI includes protections to combat regulatory harm to health equity , repealing specific executive orders that are deemed to undermine health equity efforts. It reinstates federal offices, programs, and data collection standards related to minority health and civil rights, and reaffirms disparate impact liability in anti-discrimination enforcement.