Congressional Tri-caucus Reintroduces the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) reintroduced H.R. 7585, the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA). HEAA is a comprehensive bill focused on improving the health and well-being of all communities of color, including addressing persistent racial disparities in health and health care.

The Congressional Tri-Caucus, which includes the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has introduced HEAA since 2003. U.S. Rep. Kelly introduced HEAA in her role as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.

HEAA addresses the intersection of health inequities with race and ethnicity, as well as immigration status, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language and socio-economic status.

The bill focuses on 10 main topics:

• Data collection and reporting;
• Culturally and linguistically appropriate health and health care;
• Health workforce diversity;
• Improving health care access and quality;
• Improving health outcomes for women, children and families;
• Mental health and substance use disorders;
• Addressing high-impact minority diseases;
• Health information technology;
• Accountability and evaluation; and
• Addressing social determinants and improving environmental justice.

HEAA is endorsed by more than 60 stakeholder groups representing a variety of health industry partners, patient advocates and diverse communities. It currently has 64 cosponsors.