This Act may be cited as the “Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024”.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.

(a) Amendments to the Public Health Service Act.—

(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the amendments made by this subsection is to promote culturally and linguistically appropriate data collection, analysis, and reporting by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, disability status, gender identity, age, and socioeconomic status in federally supported health programs.

(2) AHRQ GENERAL AUTHORITIES.—Section 902(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299a(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (8), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(10) cultural and linguistic competence of health care services and of data collection activities described under section 3101.”.

(3) DEFINITION OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

“(1) (A) The term ‘racial and ethnic minority group’ means a group of individuals who are any of the following:

“(i) American Indian or Alaska Native.

“(ii) Asian.

“(iii) Black or African American.

“(iv) Hispanic or Latino.

“(v) Middle Eastern or North African.

“(vi) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

“(B) The terms listed in clauses (i) through (vi) of subparagraph (A) shall have the meanings given such terms for purposes of the Revisions to OMB's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (89 Fed. Reg. 22182; March 29, 2024).”.

(B) REFERENCES.—Except as otherwise specified, any reference to the term “racial and ethnic minority group” in any Federal regulation, guidance, order, or document for establishment or implementation of any federally conducted or supported health care or public health program, activity, or survey shall be treated as having the definition given to such term in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)).

(C) SIMILAR TERMINOLOGY.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

(i) identify all regulations, guidance, orders, and documents of the Department of Health and Human Services for establishment or implementation of a health care or public health program, activity, or survey that use, without a definition, terminology that is similar to the term “racial and ethnic minority group”; and

(ii) take such actions as may be necessary to clarify whether the definition of the term “racial and ethnic minority group” in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)(1)), as amended by subparagraph (A), applies to such terminology.

(4) OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH DUTIES.—Section 1707(b)(6) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(b)(6)) is amended by inserting “and, to the extent practicable, subgroups of racial and ethnic minority groups” after “the health status of each minority group”.

(5) OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.—Section 3001 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj–11) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b)—

(i) in paragraph (10), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(12) ensures the interoperability of health information systems among federally conducted or supported health care or public health programs, State health agencies, and social service agencies.”; and

(B) by amending clause (vii) in subsection (c)(3)(A) to read as follows:

“(vii) Strategies to enhance the use of health information technology in improving the quality of health care; reducing medical errors; reducing health disparities and ensuring the provision of equitable health services; improving public health; increasing prevention and coordination with community resources; ensuring interoperability among federally conducted or supported health care or public health programs, State health agencies, and social service agencies; and improving the continuity of care among health care settings.”.

(6) DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND QUALITY.—Section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk) is amended—

(A) in subsections (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(C), (a)(2)(B), and (a)(2)(E), by striking “and disability status” and inserting “sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, and socioeconomic status”;

(B) in subsection (a)(1), by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:

“(D) data for additional population groups if such groups can be aggregated into the data collection standards described under paragraph (2).”;

(C) in subsection (a)(2)—

(i) in subparagraph (C)—

(I) in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end;

(II) in clause (ii)—

(aa) by striking “is a minor or legally incapacitated” and inserting “is a minor, requires assistance with communication in speech or writing, or is legally incapacitated”; and

(bb) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(III) by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) collects data in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate and does not include questions unrelated to, or that could potentially deter, care, such as questions related to immigration status;”;

(ii) in subparagraph (D)(iii), by striking “and” at the end;

(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iv) by adding at the end the following:

“(F) use, where practicable, the standards developed by the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly known as the ‘Institute of Medicine’) in the 2009 publication titled ‘Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data: Standardization for Health Care Quality Improvement’.”; and

(D) in subsection (a)(3), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

“(B) develop interoperability and security systems for data management among federally conducted or supported health care or public health programs, State health agencies, and social service agencies.”.

(b) Corollary provisions.—

(1) RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DATA COUNCIL.—The Data Council of the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and other appropriate public and private entities and officials, shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning how to—

(A) implement the amendments made by this section, while minimizing the cost and administrative burdens of data collection and reporting on all parties, including patients and providers;

(B) expand awareness among Federal agencies, States, territories, Indian Tribes, counties, municipalities, health providers, health plans, and the general public that data collection, analysis, and reporting by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, and disability status is legal and necessary to ensure equity and nondiscrimination in the quality of health care services;

(C) ensure that future patient record systems follow Federal standards promulgated under the HITECH Act (42 U.S.C. 201 note) for the collection and meaningful use of electronic health data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, and disability status;

(D) improve health and health care data collection and analysis for more population groups if such groups can be aggregated into minimum race and ethnicity categories, including exploring the feasibility of enhancing collection efforts in States, counties, and municipalities for racial and ethnic groups that comprise a significant proportion of the population of the State, county, or municipality;

(E) provide researchers with greater access to racial, ethnic, primary language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, and disability status data, subject to all applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA privacy and security law as defined in section 3009(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj–19(a));

(F) ensure the cultural and linguistic competence of entities that receive Federal support to collect and report data pursuant to the amendments made by subsection (a); and

(G) safeguard and prevent the misuse of data collected under section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk), as amended by subsection (a)(6).

(2) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to—

(A) permit the use of information collected under this section or any provision amended by this section in a manner that would adversely affect any individual providing any such information; or

(B) diminish any requirements on health care providers to collect data, including such requirements in effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF HEALTH DISPARITY DATA.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, shall provide technical assistance to agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services in meeting Federal standards for health disparity data collection and for analysis of racial, ethnic, and other disparities in health and health care in programs conducted or supported by such agencies by—

(A) identifying appropriate quality assurance mechanisms to monitor for health disparities;

(B) specifying the clinical, diagnostic, or therapeutic measures which should be monitored;

(C) developing new quality measures relating to racial and ethnic disparities and their overlap with other disparity factors in health and health care;

(D) identifying the level at which data analysis should be conducted;

(E) sharing data with external organizations for research and quality improvement purposes; and

(F) identifying and addressing issues relating to the interoperability of Federal- and State-level health information systems which undermine the ability of health-related programs collecting data under this section to achieve the purpose described in subsection (a)(1).

(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this subsection, subsection (a), and the amendments made by subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

(c) Additional amendments to the Public Health Service Act.—Title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as added by titles II and III of this Act, is further amended by inserting after subtitle B the following:

(d) Report to Congress.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of this section, including the amendments made by this section.

Section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk), as amended by section 1001(a), is further amended—

(1) by striking subsection (h); and

(2) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h).

Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise the regulations promulgated under part C of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d et seq.) (relating to the collection of data on demographics in a health-related transaction) to require—

(1) the use, at a minimum, of standards for data collection on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, and socioeconomic status developed under section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk), as amended by section 1001(a)(6); and

(2) in consultation with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the designation of the appropriate racial, ethnic, primary language, disability, sex, and other code sets as required for claims and enrollment data.

(b) Dissemination.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall disseminate the new standards developed under subsection (a) to all entities that are subject to the regulations described in such subsection and provide technical assistance with respect to the collection of the data involved.

(c) Compliance.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require that entities comply with the new standards developed under subsection (a) not later than 2 years after the final promulgation of such standards.

Section 306(n) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242k(n)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “2003” and inserting “2025”;

(2) in paragraph (2), in the first sentence, by striking “2003” and inserting “2025”; and

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking “2002” and inserting “2025”.

(a) Repository of Government data.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the officials referenced in subsection (b), shall establish a centralized electronic repository of Federal Government data on factors related to the health and well-being of the population of the United States.

(b) Collection; submission.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and January 31 of each year thereafter, each department, agency, and office of the Federal Government that has collected data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, or socioeconomic status during the preceding calendar year shall submit such data to the repository of Federal Government data established under subsection (a).

(c) Analysis; public availability; reporting.—Not later than April 30, 2024, and April 30 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall—

(1) prepare and make available datasets for public use that relate to disparities in health status, health care access, health care quality, health outcomes, public health, the provision of equitable health services, and other areas of health and well-being by factors that include race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, and socioeconomic status;

(2) ensure that these datasets are publicly identified on the repository established under subsection (a) as “disparities” data; and

(3) submit a report to the Congress on the availability and use of such data by public stakeholders.

(a) Authority.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants to eligible entities to access and analyze racial and ethnic data on disparities in health and health care, and where possible other data on disparities in health and health care, to monitor and report on progress to reduce and eliminate disparities in health and health care.

(b) Eligible entity.—In this section, the term “eligible entity” means an entity that has an accredited public health, health policy, or health services research program and is any of the following:

(1) A part B institution, as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(2) A Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in section 502 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a).

(3) A Tribal College or University, as defined in section 316 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c).

(4) An Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, as defined in section 371(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)).

(c) Authorization of appropriations.—To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

(a) In general.—Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 505G (21 U.S.C. 355h) the following:

(b) Enforcement.—Section 502 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 352) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(hh) If it is a drug and the holder of the approved application under section 505 or license under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act for the drug has failed to complete the investigations or studies required under section 505H, or comply with any other requirement of such section 505H.”.

(c) Drug fees.—Section 736(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379h(a)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting after “are not required” the following: “, including postmarket studies required under section 505H,”.

Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317V (42 U.S.C. 247b–24) the following:

Section 11(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(5) SIMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—With respect to any obligation of a State agency to comply with the notification requirement under paragraph (2) of section 421(e) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631(e)), notwithstanding the requirement to include in that notification the names of the sponsor and the sponsored alien involved, the State agency shall be considered to have complied with the notification requirement if the State agency submits to the Attorney General a report that includes the aggregate number of exceptions granted by the State agency under paragraph (1) of that section.”.

(a) Skilled nursing Facilities Quality Reporting.—Section 1819 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(l) Requirements relating to reporting during public health emergencies.—During a public health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, a skilled nursing facility shall, not later than 1 year after the first day of such declaration, and monthly thereafter during the application of such declaration, submit to the Secretary the following information, with respect to such facility and the residents of such facility:

“(1) Information described in section 483.80(g)(1) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.

“(2) The age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability status, and preferred language of the residents of such skilled nursing facility.”.

(b) Transparency of demographic information in certain settings.—

(1) DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall post the following information with respect to skilled nursing facilities (as defined in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(a))), congregate care settings (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and jails, residential behavioral health care and psychiatric facilities, and facilities providing services for aging adults and people with disabilities), and nursing facilities (as defined in section 1919(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(a))) on the Nursing Home Compare website (as described in section 1819(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(i))), or a successor website, aggregated by State:

(A) The age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability status, and preferred language of the residents of such skilled nursing facilities, congregate care settings (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and jails, residential behavioral health care and psychiatric facilities, and facilities providing services for aging adults and people with disabilities), and nursing facilities with suspected or confirmed infections, including residents previously treated for COVID–19.

(B) The age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability status, and preferred language relating to total deaths and public health emergency-related deaths among residents of such skilled nursing facilities, congregate settings (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and jails, residential behavioral health care and psychiatric facilities, and facilities providing services for aging adults and people with disabilities), and nursing facilities.

(2) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Any information reported under this subsection that is made available to the public shall be made so available in a manner that protects the identity of residents of skilled nursing facilities, congregate care settings (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and jails, residential behavioral health care and psychiatric facilities, and facilities providing services for aging adults and people with disabilities), and nursing facilities.

(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the provisions of this subsection by program instruction or otherwise.

(c) Equitable data collection and disclosure regarding pandemics.—Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) as amended by section 1003, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

(d) Report requirements following public health emergencies.—

(1) PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SUMMARY.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that a public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act has ended, the Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services a summary of the final statistics related to such emergency.

(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies that a public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act has ended, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report—

(A) describing the testing, hospitalization, mortality rates, vaccination rates, and preferred language of patients associated with the pandemic by race and ethnicity, rural and urban areas (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(2)(D))), and congregate care settings (including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and jails, residential behavioral health care and psychiatric facilities, and facilities providing services for aging adults and people with disabilities) and noncongregate care settings (as such terms are defined by the Secretary); and

(B) proposing evidenced-based response strategies to safeguard the health of these communities in future pandemics.

(a) In general.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a commission, to be known as the “Commission on Ensuring Data for Health Equity” (referred to in this section as the “Commission”) to provide clear and robust guidance to improve the collection, analysis, and use of demographic data in responding to future public health emergencies.

(b) Membership and Chairperson.—

(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be composed of—

(A) the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response;

(B) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(C) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;

(D) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;

(E) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(F) the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities;

(G) the Director of the Indian Health Service;

(H) the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;

(I) the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;

(J) the Surgeon General;

(K) the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration;

(L) the Director of the Office of Minority Health;

(M) the Director of the Office on Women’s Health;

(N) the Chairperson of the National Council on Disability;

(O) at least 4 State, local, territorial, and Tribal public health officials representing departments of public health, or an Urban Indian health representative, who shall represent jurisdictions from different regions of the United States with relatively high concentrations of historically marginalized populations and rural populations, to be appointed by the Secretary;

(P) the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology;

(Q) at least 3 independent individuals with expertise on racially and ethnically diverse representation with knowledge or field experience with community-based participatory research on racial and ethnic disparities in public health, to be appointed by the Secretary; and

(R) at least 4 individuals with expertise on health equity and demographic data disparities with knowledge of, or field experience in, language, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response shall serve as the Chairperson of the Commission.

(c) Duties.—The Commission shall—

(1) examine barriers to collecting, analyzing, and using demographic data in public health;

(2) determine how to best use such data to promote health equity across the United States and reduce racial, Tribal, and other demographic disparities in health outcomes;

(3) (A) gather available data related to treatment of individuals with disabilities during the COVID–19 pandemic and other public health emergencies, including access to vaccinations, denial of treatment for preexisting conditions, removal or denial of disability related equipment (including ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (commonly referred to as “CPAP”) machines), and data on completion of do-not-resuscitate orders; and

(B) identify barriers to obtaining accurate and timely data related to treatment of such individuals;

(4) solicit input from public health officials, community-connected organizations, health care providers, State and local agency officials, Tribal officials, and other experts on barriers to, and best practices for, collecting demographic data; and

(5) recommend policy changes that the data indicates are necessary to reduce demographic disparities in health outcomes.

(d) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress, and publish on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report containing—

(1) the findings of the Commission pursuant to subsection (c);

(2) to the extent possible, an analysis of—

(A) racial and other demographic disparities in COVID–19 mortality, including an analysis of comorbidities and case fatality rates;

(B) sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity disparities in COVID–19 treatment and mortality; and

(C) Federal Government policies that disparately exacerbate the COVID–19 impact, and recommendations to improve racial and other demographic disparities in health outcomes;

(3) an analysis of COVID–19 treatment of individuals with disabilities, including equity of access to treatment and equipment and intersections of disability status with other demographic factors, including race;

(4) an analysis of what demographic data is currently being collected, the accuracy of that data and any gaps, how this data is currently being used to inform efforts to combat COVID–19, and what resources are needed to supplement existing public health data collection; and

(5) the Commission’s recommendations with respect to—

(A) how to enhance State, local, territorial, and Tribal capacity to conduct public health research on COVID–19 and in future public health emergencies, with a focus on expanded capacity to analyze data on disparities correlated with race, ethnicity, income, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, specific geographic areas, and other relevant demographic characteristics;

(B) how to collect, process, and disclose to the public the data described in subparagraph (A) in a way that maintains individual privacy while helping direct the State, local, and Tribal response to public health emergencies;

(C) how to improve demographic data collection related to COVID–19 and other public health emergencies in the short-term and long-term, including how to continue to grow and value the Tribal sovereignty of data and information concerning urban and rural Tribal communities;

(D) how to improve transparency and equity of treatment for individuals with disabilities during the COVID–19 public health emergency and future public health emergencies; and

(E) how to support State, local, and Tribal capacity to eliminate barriers to vaccinations, testing, and treatment during the COVID–19 public health emergency and future public health emergencies.

(e) Staff of commission.—

(1) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Chairperson of the Commission may appoint and fix the pay of additional staff to the Commission as the Chairperson considers appropriate.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—The staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

(3) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and the detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption.

(f) Coordination with other efforts.—The Secretary shall, in establishing the Commission under this section, take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the work of the Commission does not overlap with, or otherwise duplicate, other Federal Government efforts with respect to ensuring health equity in data collection in public health emergencies.

(g) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

(a) In general.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a Task Force to be known as the “Task Force on Preventing AI and Algorithmic Bias in Health Care” (referred to in this section as the “Task Force”) to provide clear and robust guidance on how to ensure that the development and integration of artificial intelligence and algorithmic technologies within the health care service delivery process does not exacerbate health disparities and inequities, expands access to health care services, and improves health care delivery.

(b) Membership and Chairperson.—

(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall be composed of—

(A) the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(B) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(C) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;

(D) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;

(E) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(F) the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities;

(G) the Director of the Indian Health Service;

(H) the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;

(I) the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;

(J) the Surgeon General;

(K) the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration;

(L) the Director of the Office of Minority Health;

(M) the Director of the Office on Women’s Health;

(N) the Chairperson of the National Council on Disability;

(O) the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology;

(P) at least 4 State, local, territorial, and Tribal public health officials representing departments of public health, or an Urban Indian health representative, who shall represent jurisdictions from different regions of the United States with relatively high concentrations of historically marginalized populations, to be appointed by the Secretary;

(Q) at least 3 independent individuals with expertise on racially and ethnically diverse representation with knowledge or field experience with community-based participatory research on racial and ethnic disparities in public health, to be appointed by the Secretary; and

(R) at least 4 individuals with expertise on health equity and demographic data disparities with knowledge of, or field experience in, language, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services (or the Chief Information Officer’s designee) shall serve as the Chairperson of the Task Force.

(c) Duties.—The Task Force shall—

(1) examine artificial intelligence and algorithms in the health care service sector, including the health care delivery process relative to the use of autonomous human decision makers;

(2) identify the risks of health care system utilization of artificial intelligence and algorithms in terms of civil rights, civil liberties, and discriminatory bias in health care access, quality, and outcomes; and

(3) prepare and submit the report under subsection (d).

(d) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall—

(1) submit a written report of the findings of the examination under subsection (c)(1) and recommendations to Congress with respect to implementation of artificial intelligence and algorithms in health care delivery and mitigation of the risks associated with that implementation; and

(2) publish such report on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(e) Public comment.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall publish in the Federal Register a notice providing for a public comment period on the duties and activities of the Task Force of not less than 90 days, beginning on the date of that publication.

(f) Staff of commission.—

(1) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Chairperson of the Task Force may appoint and fix the pay of additional staff to the Task Force as the Chairperson considers appropriate.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—The staff of the Task Force may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

(3) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Task Force without reimbursement from the Task Force, and the detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption.

(a) Study required.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall conduct or support a comprehensive study regarding the unique health patterns and outcomes of Middle Eastern and North African (referred to in this section as “MENA”) populations.

(b) Requirements for study.—The comprehensive study under subsection (a) shall include an enumeration of MENA populations across the United States, disaggregated by subpopulation, and with respect to each such population and subpopulation—

(1) the rates of—

(A) obesity, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, stroke, asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, HIV/AIDS, HPV, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and chronic heart, lung, and kidney disease;

(B) morbidity and mortality, including the rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the health conditions listed in subparagraph (A);

(C) mental health and substance use disorders; and

(D) domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking;

(2) analysis of—

(A) the rates described in paragraph (1);

(B) the leading causes of pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality; and

(C) access to health care facilities and the associated outcomes of care;

(3) analysis, enumeration, or quantification of any other health or health-related parameters the Secretary may determine necessary; and

(4) analysis of the relationship between the health factors, outcomes, and conditions described in paragraphs (1) through (3) and the implementation of Federal health programs.

(c) Consultation.—The Secretary shall—

(1) carry out this section in consultation, as appropriate, with the Director of the Census Bureau, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and other stakeholders (including community-based organizations); and

(2) determine through such consultation the subpopulations to be used for purposes of disaggregation of data pursuant to subsection (b).

(d) Online portal.—Upon conclusion of the comprehensive study under this section, the Secretary shall establish a public online portal to catalogue the results of the study, its underlying data, and information in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (e).

(e) Reporting.—

(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report outlining the challenges associated with, and progress towards implementing health data collection for MENA populations as a distinct category and the plan for completing a comprehensive study regarding the unique health patterns and outcomes of MENA populations.

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the conclusion of the comprehensive study under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—

(A) the results of the study conducted under this section; and

(B) the rulemakings and other actions the agencies described in subsection (c)(1) can undertake to more equitably include MENA individuals in their programs.

(f) Privacy.—The Secretary shall not include any personally identifiable information on the online portal under subsection (d) or in a report under subsection (e).

(g) Definition of Middle Eastern and North African; MENA.—In this section, the terms “Middle Eastern and North African” or “MENA”, with respect to individuals or populations, includes individuals and populations who identify with or belong to one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in a country (or portion thereof) in the Middle Eastern and North African region (such as Lebanese, Iranians, Egyptians, Moroccans, Yemenis, Chaldeans, Imazighen, Kurds, Palestinians, and Yazidis).

In this title, the definitions in section 3400 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2004, shall apply.

(a) Purpose.—Consistent with the goals provided in Executive Order 13166 (42 U.S.C. 2000d–1 note; relating to improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency), it is the purpose of this section—

(1) to improve Federal agency performance regarding access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs and activities for individuals with limited English proficiency;

(2) to require each Federal agency to examine the services it provides and develop and implement a system by which individuals with limited English proficiency can obtain culturally competent services and meaningful access to those services consistent with, and without substantially burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency;

(3) to require each Federal agency to translate any English language written material prepared for the general public into the top 15 non-English languages in the United States (according to the most recent data from the American Community Survey or its replacement) within established timelines described in subsection (b)(2)(C)(v);

(4) to require each Federal agency to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance provide culturally competent services and meaningful access to applicants and beneficiaries who are individuals with limited English proficiency;

(5) to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance take reasonable steps, consistent with the guidelines set forth in the “Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons” (67 Fed. Reg. 41455 (June 18, 2002)), to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate access to their programs and activities by individuals with limited English proficiency; and

(6) to ensure compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116) (prohibiting health care providers and organizations from discriminating in the provision of services).

(b) Federally Conducted programs and activities.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each Federal agency providing financial assistance to, or administering, a health program or activity described in section 2003(a) shall prepare a plan or update a plan to improve culturally and linguistically appropriate access to such program or activity with respect to individuals with limited English proficiency. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each such Federal agency shall ensure that such plan is fully implemented.

(2) PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Each plan under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) the steps the agency will take to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency have access to each health program or activity supported or administered by the agency;

(B) the policies and procedures for identifying, assessing, and meeting the culturally and linguistically appropriate language needs of its beneficiaries that are individuals with limited English proficiency served by such program or activity;

(C) the steps the agency will take for such program or activity to be culturally and linguistically appropriate by—

(i) providing a range of language assistance options;

(ii) giving notice to individuals with limited English proficiency of the right to competent language services;

(iii) training staff (at least annually);

(iv) monitoring and assessing the quality of the language services (at least annually); and

(v) translating any English language written material prepared for the general public into the top 15 non-English languages in the United States (according to the most recent data from the American Community Survey or its replacement) within established timelines that ensure that high-quality, culturally competent translated material is provided promptly within not more than 15 calendar days in general and within not more than 7 calendar days in the case of any national emergency or State disaster declaration;

(D) the steps the agency will take for such program or activity to provide reasonable accommodations necessary for individuals with limited English proficiency, including those individuals with a communication disability, to understand communications from the agency;

(E) the steps the agency will take to ensure that applications, forms, and other significant documents for such program or activity are competently translated into the primary language of a client that is an individual with limited English proficiency where such materials are needed to improve access of such client to such program or activity;

(F) the resources the agency will provide to improve cultural and linguistic appropriateness to assist recipients of Federal funds to improve access to health care-related programs and activities for individuals with limited English proficiency;

(G) the resources the agency will provide to ensure that competent language assistance is provided to patients that are individuals with limited English proficiency by interpreters or trained bilingual staff;

(H) the resources the agency will provide to ensure that family, particularly minor children, and friends are not used to provide interpretation services, except as permitted under section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116); and

(I) the steps the agency will take and resources the agency will provide to ensure that individuals know their rights, including the ability to file a complaint.

(3) SUBMISSION OF PLAN TO DOJ.—Each agency that is required to prepare a plan under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) consult with populations who are directly impacted by policies in the plan and their representatives in the development of the plan; and

(B) when the plan is finalized, send a copy of such plan to the Attorney General, to serve as the central repository of all such plans.

(a) Applicability.—This section shall apply to any health program or activity—

(1) of which any part is receiving Federal financial assistance, including credits, subsidies, or contracts of insurance; or

(2) that is carried out (including indirectly through contracts, subcontracts, or other support) by an executive agency or any entity established under title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18001 et seq.) (or amendments made thereby).

(b) Standards.—Each program or activity described in subsection (a)—

(1) shall implement strategies to recruit, retain, and promote individuals at all levels to maintain a diverse staff and leadership that can provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health care to patient populations of the service area of the program or activity;

(2) shall educate and train governance, leadership, and workforce at all levels and across all disciplines of the program or activity in culturally and linguistically appropriate policies and practices on an ongoing basis at least yearly;

(3) shall offer and provide language assistance, including trained and competent bilingual staff and interpreter services, to individuals with limited English proficiency or who have other communication needs, at no cost to the individual at all points of contact, and during all hours of operation, to facilitate timely access to health care services and health care-related services;

(4) shall for each language group consisting of individuals with limited English proficiency that constitutes 5 percent or 500 individuals, whichever is less, of the population of persons eligible to be served or likely to be affected or encountered in the service area of the program or activity, make available at a fifth grade reading level—

(A) easily understood patient-related materials, including print and multimedia materials, in the language of such language group;

(B) information or notices about termination of benefits in such language;

(C) signage; and

(D) any other documents or types of documents designated by the Secretary;

(5) shall develop and implement clear goals, policies, operational plans, and management, accountability, and oversight mechanisms to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services and infuse them throughout the planning and operations of the program or activity;

(6) shall conduct initial and ongoing, at least annually, organizational assessments of culturally and linguistically appropriate services-related activities and integrate valid linguistic, competence-related National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) measures into the internal audits, performance improvement programs, patient satisfaction assessments, continuous quality improvement activities, and outcomes-based evaluations of the program or activity and develop ways to standardize assessments;

(7) shall ensure that, consistent with the privacy protections provided for under the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note; Public Law 104–191), data on an individual required to be collected pursuant to section 3101 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk), including the individual’s alternative format preferences and policy modification needs, are—

(A) collected in health records;

(B) integrated into the management information systems of the program or activity;

(C) reported in such a way as to be interoperable with health information systems at the Federal and State levels; and

(D) periodically updated;

(8) shall maintain a current demographic, cultural, and epidemiological profile of the community, conduct regular assessments of community health assets and needs, and use the results of such assessments to accurately plan for and implement services that respond to the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the service area of the program or activity;

(9) shall develop participatory, collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations and utilize a variety of formal and informal mechanisms to facilitate community and patient involvement in designing, implementing, and evaluating policies and practices to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate service-related activities;

(10) shall ensure that conflict and grievance resolution processes are culturally and linguistically appropriate and capable of identifying, preventing, and resolving cross-cultural conflicts or complaints by patients;

(11) shall annually—

(A) make available to the public—

(i) information about the progress and successful innovations of the program or activity in implementing the standards under this section; and

(ii) translated materials of such information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to the communities served under this section; and

(B) provide public notice in such communities about the availability of such information; and

(12) shall, if requested, regularly make available to the head of each Federal entity from which Federal funds are provided, information about the progress and successful innovations of the program or activity in implementing the standards under this section as required by the head of such entity.

(c) Comments accepted through notice and comment rulemaking.—An executive agency carrying out a program or activity described in subsection (a)—

(1) shall ensure that comments with respect to such program or activity that are accepted through notice and comment rulemaking are accepted in all languages;

(2) may not require such comments to be submitted only in English; and

(3) shall ensure that any such comments that are not submitted in English are considered, during the agency’s review of such comments, equally as such comments that are submitted in English.

The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) Grants authorized.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall award 1 grant in accordance with this section to each of 3 States (to be selected by the Secretary) to assist each such State in designing, implementing, and evaluating a statewide program to provide onsite interpreter services under the State Medicaid plan.

(b) Grant period.—A grant awarded under this section is authorized for the period of 3 fiscal years beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2027.

(c) Preference.—In awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to a State—

(1) that has a high proportion of qualified LEP enrollees, as determined by the Secretary;

(2) that has a large number of qualified LEP enrollees, as determined by the Secretary;

(3) that has a high growth rate of the population of individuals with limited English proficiency, as determined by the Secretary; and

(4) that has a population of qualified LEP enrollees that is linguistically diverse, requiring interpreter services in at least 200 non-English languages.

(d) Use of funds.—A State receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to—

(1) ensure that all health care providers in the State participating in the State Medicaid plan have access to onsite interpreter services, for the purpose of enabling effective communication between such providers and qualified LEP enrollees during the furnishing of items and services and administrative interactions;

(2) establish, expand, procure, or contract for—

(A) a statewide health care information technology system that is designed to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale with respect to onsite interpreter services provided to health care providers in the State participating in the State Medicaid plan; and

(B) an entity to administer such system, the duties of which shall include—

(i) procuring and scheduling interpreter services for qualified LEP enrollees;

(ii) procuring and scheduling interpreter services for individuals with limited English proficiency seeking to enroll in the State Medicaid plan;

(iii) ensuring that interpreters receive payment for interpreter services rendered under the system; and

(iv) consulting regularly with organizations representing LEP consumers, interpreters, and health care providers; and

(3) develop mechanisms to establish, improve, and strengthen the competency of the medical interpretation workforce that serves qualified LEP enrollees in the State, including a national certification process that is valid, credible, and vendor-neutral.

(e) Application.—To receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application at such time and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include the following:

(1) A description of the language access needs of individuals in the State enrolled in the State Medicaid plan.

(2) A description of the extent to which the program will—

(A) use the grant funds for the purposes described in subsection (d);

(B) meet the health care needs of rural populations of the State; and

(C) collect information that accurately tracks the language services requested by consumers as compared to the language services provided by health care providers in the State participating in the State Medicaid plan.

(3) A description of how the program will be evaluated, including a proposal for collaboration with organizations representing interpreters, consumers, and individuals with limited English proficiency.

(f) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) QUALIFIED LEP ENROLLEE.—The term “qualified LEP enrollee” means an individual—

(A) who is limited English proficient; and

(B) who is enrolled in a State Medicaid plan.

(2) STATE.—The term “State” has the meaning given the term in section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)), for purposes of title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).

(3) STATE MEDICAID PLAN.—The term “State Medicaid plan” means a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a waiver of such a plan.

(4) UNITED STATES.—The term “United States” has the meaning given the term in section 1101(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(2)), for purposes of title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).

(g) Continuation past demonstration.—Any State receiving a grant under this section must agree to directly pay for language services in Medicaid for all Medicaid providers by the end of the grant period.

(h) Funding.—

(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section.

(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization in paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available without fiscal year limitation.

(3) INCREASED FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION.—Section 1903(a)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)(2)(E)) is amended by inserting “(or, in the case of a State that was awarded a grant under section 2005 of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024, 100 percent for each quarter occurring during the grant period specified in subsection (b) of such section)” after “75 percent”.

(i) Limitation.—No Federal funds awarded under this section may be used to provide interpreter services from a location outside the United States.

(a) Direct graduate medical education.—Section 1886(h)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(L) TREATMENT OF CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE TRAINING.—In determining a hospital’s number of full-time equivalent residents for purposes of this subsection, all the time that is spent by an intern or resident in an approved medical residency training program for education and training in culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery, which shall include all medically underserved populations (as defined in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act), shall be counted toward the determination of full-time equivalency.”.

(b) Indirect medical education.—Section 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

“(xiv) The provisions of subparagraph (L) of subsection (h)(4) shall apply under this subparagraph in the same manner as they apply under such subsection.”.

(c) Effective date.—The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to payments made to hospitals on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(a) Language Access grants for Medicare Providers.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the “Secretary”), acting through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and in consultation with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (as referred to in section 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a)), shall establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible Medicare service providers to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to Medicare beneficiaries who are limited English proficient, including beneficiaries who live in diverse and underserved communities.

(B) APPLICATION OF INNOVATION RULES.—The demonstration project under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the applicable provisions of subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a).

(C) NUMBER OF GRANTS.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall award not less than 24 grants under this subsection.

(D) GRANT PERIOD.—Except as provided in paragraph (2)(D), each grant awarded under this subsection shall be for a 3-year period.

(2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity must meet the following requirements:

(A) MEDICARE PROVIDER.—The entity must be—

(i) a provider of services under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.);

(ii) a provider of services under part B of such title (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.);

(iii) a Medicare Advantage organization offering a Medicare Advantage plan under part C of such title (42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq.); or

(iv) a PDP sponsor offering a prescription drug plan under part D of such title (42 U.S.C. 1395w–101 et seq.).

(B) UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.—The entity must serve a community that, with respect to necessary language services for improving access and utilization of health care among individuals who are limited English proficient, is disproportionally underserved.

(C) APPLICATION.—The entity must prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may require.

(D) REPORTING.—In the case of a grantee that received a grant under this subsection in a previous year, such grantee is only eligible for continued payments under a grant under this subsection if the grantee met the reporting requirements under paragraph (9) for such year. If a grantee fails to meet the requirements of such paragraph for the first year of a grant, the Secretary may terminate the grant and solicit applications from new grantees to participate in the demonstration program.

(3) DISTRIBUTION.—To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall award—

(A) at least 10 grants to providers of services described in paragraph (2)(A)(i);

(B) at least 10 grants to service providers described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii);

(C) at least 10 grants to organizations described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii); and

(D) at least 10 grants to sponsors described in paragraph (2)(A)(iv).

(4) CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS.—

(A) VARIATION AMONG GRANTEES.—In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall select grantees to ensure the following:

(i) The grantees provide many different types of language services.

(ii) The grantees serve Medicare beneficiaries who speak different languages, and who, as a population, have differing needs for language services.

(iii) The grantees serve Medicare beneficiaries in both urban and rural settings.

(iv) The grantees represent each Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services region, as defined by the Secretary.

(v) The grantees serve Medicare beneficiaries in at least 2 large metropolitan statistical areas with diverse populations, including diversity in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and socioeconomic status.

(B) PRIORITY FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES.—In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that have a partnership with 1 or more of the following entities that have experience in providing language services:

(i) A community organization.

(ii) A consortium of community organizations, State agencies, and local agencies.

(5) USE OF FUNDS FOR COMPETENT LANGUAGE SERVICES.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (E), a grantee may only use grant funds received under this subsection to pay for the provision of competent language services to Medicare beneficiaries who are individuals who are limited English proficient to supplement existing Medicare requirements.

(B) COMPETENT LANGUAGE SERVICES DEFINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “competent language services” means—

(i) interpreter and translation services that—

(I) subject to the exceptions under subparagraph (C)—

(aa) if the grantee operates in a State that has statewide health care interpreter standards, meet the State standards currently in effect; or

(bb) if the grantee operates in a State that does not have statewide health care interpreter standards, utilize competent interpreters who follow the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and comply with the requirements of section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116) as published in the Federal Register on May 18, 2016, 81 Fed. Reg. 31375; and

(II) in the case of interpreter services, are provided through—

(aa) onsite interpretation;

(bb) telephonic interpretation; or

(cc) video interpretation; and

(ii) the direct provision of health care or health care-related services by a competent bilingual health care provider.

(C) EXCEPTIONS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The requirements of subparagraph (B)(i)(I) do not apply, with respect to interpreter and translation services and a grantee—

(I) in the case of a Medicare beneficiary who is limited English proficient, if—

(aa) such beneficiary has been informed, in the beneficiary’s primary language, of the availability of free interpreter and translation services and the beneficiary instead requests that a family member, friend, or other person provide such services; and

(bb) the grantee documents such request in the beneficiary’s medical record; or

(II) subject to clause (ii), in the case of a medical emergency where the delay directly associated with obtaining a competent interpreter or translation services would jeopardize the health of the patient.

(ii) CLARIFICATION.—Clause (i)(II) shall not be construed to exempt emergency rooms or similar entities that regularly provide health care services in medical emergencies to patients who are individuals who are limited English proficient from any applicable legal or regulatory requirements related to providing competent interpreter and translation services without undue delay.

(D) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ORGANIZATIONS AND PDP SPONSORS.—A grantee that is a Medicare Advantage organization or a prescription drug plan sponsor must provide at least 50 percent of the grant funds that the grantee receives under this subsection directly to the entity’s network providers (including all health providers and pharmacists) for the purpose of providing support for such providers to provide competent language services to Medicare beneficiaries who are individuals who are limited English proficient.

(E) ADMINISTRATIVE AND REPORTING COSTS.—A grantee may use up to 10 percent of the grant funds to pay for administrative costs associated with the provision of competent language services and for reporting required under paragraph (9).

(6) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT OF GRANT PAYMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Payments to grantees under this subsection shall be calculated based on the estimated numbers of Medicare beneficiaries who are limited English proficient in a grantee’s service area utilizing—

(i) data on the numbers of English learners who speak English less than “very well” from the most recently available data from the Bureau of the Census or other State-based study the Secretary determines is likely to yield accurate data regarding the number of such individuals in such service area; or

(ii) data provided by the grantee, if the grantee routinely collects data on the primary language of the Medicare beneficiaries that the grantee serves and the Secretary determines that the data is accurate and shows a greater number of individuals who are limited English proficient than would be estimated using the data under clause (i).

(B) DISCRETION OF SECRETARY.—Subject to subparagraph (C), the amount of payment made to a grantee under this subsection may be modified annually at the discretion of the Secretary, based on changes in the data under subparagraph (A) with respect to the service area of a grantee for the year.

(C) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant made under this subsection to a grantee may not exceed $500,000 for the period under paragraph (1)(D).

(7) ASSURANCES.—Grantees under this subsection shall, as a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection—

(A) ensure that clinical and support staff receive appropriate ongoing education and training in linguistically appropriate service delivery;

(B) ensure the linguistic competence of bilingual providers;

(C) offer and provide appropriate language services at no additional charge to each patient who is limited English proficient for all points of contact between the patient and the grantee, in a timely manner during all hours of operation;

(D) notify Medicare beneficiaries of their right to receive language services in their primary language at least annually;

(E) post signage in the primary languages commonly used by the patient population in the service area of the organization; and

(F) ensure that—

(i) primary language data are collected for recipients of language services and such data are consistent with standards developed under title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2002 of this Act, to the extent such standards are available upon the initiation of the demonstration program; and

(ii) consistent with the privacy protections provided under the regulations promulgated pursuant to section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note), if the recipient of language services is a minor or is incapacitated, primary language data must also be collected on the parent or legal guardian of such recipient.

(8) NO COST SHARING.—Medicare beneficiaries who are limited English proficient shall not have to pay cost sharing or co-payments for competent language services provided under this demonstration program.

(9) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES.—Not later than the end of each calendar year, a grantee that receives funds under this subsection in such year shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes the following information:

(A) The number of Medicare beneficiaries to whom competent language services are provided, disaggregated by age and entitlement basis (on the basis of age, disability, or determination of end stage renal disease).

(B) The primary languages of those Medicare beneficiaries.

(C) The types of language services provided to such beneficiaries.

(D) Whether such language services were provided by employees of the grantee or through a contract with external contractors or agencies.

(E) The types of interpretation services provided to such beneficiaries, and the approximate length of time such service is provided to such beneficiaries.

(F) The costs of providing competent language services.

(G) An account of the training or accreditation of bilingual staff, interpreters, and translators providing services funded by the grant under this subsection.

(10) EVALUATION AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year after the completion of a 3-year grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the demonstration program under this subsection and shall submit to the Congress a report that includes the following:

(A) An analysis of the patient outcomes and the costs of furnishing care to the Medicare beneficiaries who are individuals who are limited English proficient participating in the project as compared to such outcomes and costs for such Medicare beneficiaries not participating, based on the data provided under paragraph (9) and any other information available to the Secretary.

(B) The effect of delivering language services on—

(i) Medicare beneficiary access to care and utilization of services;

(ii) the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of health care delivery;

(iii) patient satisfaction with respect to both health service delivery and language assistance;

(iv) health outcomes; and

(v) the provision of culturally appropriate services provided to such beneficiaries.

(C) The extent to which bilingual staff, interpreters, and translators providing services under such demonstration were trained or accredited and the nature of accreditation or training needed by type of provider, service, or other category as determined by the Secretary to ensure the provision of high-quality interpretation, translation, or other language services to Medicare beneficiaries if such services are expanded pursuant to section 1115A(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a(c)).

(D) Recommendations, if any, regarding the extension of such project to the entire Medicare Program, subject to the provisions of such section 1115A(c).

(11) APPROPRIATIONS.—There is appropriated to carry out this subsection, in equal parts from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), $16,000,000 for each fiscal year of the demonstration program.

(12) LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “limited English proficient” means individuals who self-identify on the Census as speaking English less than “very well”.

(b) Language assistance services under the Medicare program.—

(1) INCLUSION AS RURAL HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES.—Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—

(A) in subsection (aa)(1)—

(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting “and” after the comma at the end; and

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:

“(E) language assistance services as defined in subsection (nnn),”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(nnn) The term ‘language assistance services’ means ‘language access’ or ‘language assistance services’ (as those terms are defined in section 3400 of the Public Health Service Act) furnished by a ‘qualified interpreter for an individual with limited English proficiency’ or a ‘qualified translator’ (as those terms are defined in such section 3400) to an ‘individual with limited English proficiency’ (as defined in such section 3400).”.

(2) COVERAGE.—Section 1832(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (I), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(K) language assistance services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)).”.

(3) PAYMENT.—Section 1833(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (9), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraph:

“(11) in the case of language assistance services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)), 100 percent of the reasonable charges for such services, as determined in consultation with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.”.

(4) WAIVER OF BUDGET NEUTRALITY.—For the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this section, the budget neutrality provision of section 1848(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)(ii)) shall not apply with respect to language assistance services (as defined in section 1861(nnn) of such Act).

(c) Medicare parts C and D; Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans reporting requirement.—Section 1857(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–27(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(6) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE SERVICES.—A contract under this part shall require a Medicare Advantage organization (and, through application of section 1860D–12(b)(3)(D), a contract under section 1860D–12 shall require a PDP sponsor) to annually submit (for each year of the contract) a report that contains information on the internal policies and procedures of the organization (or sponsor) related to recruitment and retention efforts directed to workforce diversity and linguistically and culturally appropriate provision of services in each of the following contexts:

“(A) The collection of data in a manner that meets the requirements of title I of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024, regarding the enrollee population.

“(B) Education of staff and contractors who have routine contact with enrollees regarding the various needs of the diverse enrollee population.

“(C) Evaluation of the language services programs and services offered by the organization (or sponsor) with respect to the enrollee population, such as through analysis of complaints or satisfaction survey results.

“(D) Methods by which the plan provides to the Secretary information regarding the ethnic diversity of the enrollee population.

“(E) The periodic provision of educational information to plan enrollees on the language services and programs offered by the organization (or sponsor).”.

(d) Improving language services in Medicaid and CHIP.—

(1) PAYMENTS TO STATES.—Section 1903(a)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)(2)(E)), as amended by section 2005(h)(3), is further amended by—

(A) striking “75” and inserting “95”;

(B) striking “translation or interpretation services” and inserting “language assistance services”; and

(C) striking “children of families” and inserting “individuals”.

(2) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Section 1902(a)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)) is amended by striking “and (30)” and inserting “(30), and (32)”.

(3) DEFINITION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (31), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) by redesignating paragraph (32) as paragraph (33); and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (31) the following new paragraph:

“(32) language assistance services, as such term is defined in section 1861(nnn), provided in a timely manner to individuals with limited English proficiency as defined in section 3400 of the Public Health Service Act; and”.

(4) USE OF DEDUCTIONS AND COST SHARING.—Subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of section 1916 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396o) are each amended—

(A) in subparagraph (I), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (J), by striking “; and” and inserting “, or”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(K) language assistance services described in section 1905(a)(32); and”.

(5) CHIP COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.—Section 2103 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397cc) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking “(5), (6), (7) and (8)” and inserting “(5) through (13)”;

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

“(13) LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES.—The child health assistance provided to a targeted low-income child shall include coverage of language assistance services, as such term is defined in section 1861(nnn), provided in a timely manner to individuals with limited English proficiency (as defined in section 3400 of the Public Health Service Act).”; and

(C) in subsection (e)(2)—

(i) in the heading, by striking “preventive” and inserting “certain”; and

(ii) by inserting “language assistance services described in subsection (c)(12),” before “or for pregnancy-related assistance”.

(6) DEFINITION OF CHILD HEALTH ASSISTANCE.—Section 2110(a)(27) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(a)(27)) is amended by striking “transportation, translation, and outreach services” and inserting “transportation services, language assistance services as described in section 2103(c)(13), and outreach services”.

(7) STATE DATA COLLECTION.—Pursuant to the reporting requirement described in section 2107(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(b)(1)), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require that States collect data on—

(A) the primary language of individuals receiving child health assistance under title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.); and

(B) in the case of such individuals who are minors or incapacitated, the primary language of the individual’s parent or guardian.

(8) CHIP PAYMENTS TO STATES.—Section 2105 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a)(1)—

(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “75” and inserting “95”; and

(ii) in subparagraph (D)(iv), by striking “translation or interpretation services” and inserting “language assistance services”; and

(B) in subsection (c)(2)(A), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, except that expenditures pursuant to clause (iv) of subparagraph (D) of such paragraph shall not count towards this total”.

(e) Funding language assistance services furnished by providers of health care and health care-Related services that serve high rates of uninsured LEP individuals.—

(1) PAYMENT OF COSTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this subsection as the “Secretary”) shall make payments (on a quarterly basis) directly to eligible entities to support the provision of language assistance services to individuals with limited English proficiency in an amount equal to an eligible entity’s eligible costs for providing such services for the quarter.

(B) FUNDING.—Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

(C) RELATION TO MEDICAID DSH.—Payments under this subsection shall not offset or reduce payments under section 1923 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–4), nor shall payments under such section be considered when determining uncompensated costs associated with the provision of language assistance services for the purposes of this subsection.

(2) METHODOLOGY FOR PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a methodology to determine the average per person cost of language assistance services.

(B) DIFFERENT ENTITIES.—In establishing such methodology, the Secretary may establish different methodologies for different types of eligible entities.

(C) NO INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS.—The Secretary may not require eligible entities to submit individual claims for language assistance services for individual patients as a requirement for payment under this subsection.

(3) DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT.—For purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall create a standard data collection instrument that is consistent with any existing reporting requirements by the Secretary or relevant accrediting organizations regarding the number of individuals to whom language access is provided.

(4) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and distribute guidelines concerning the implementation of this subsection.

(5) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Entities receiving payment under this subsection shall provide the Secretary with a quarterly report on how the entity used such funds. Such report shall contain aggregate (and may not contain individualized) data collected using the instrument under paragraph (3) and shall otherwise be in a form and manner determined by the Secretary.

(B) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress concerning the implementation of this subsection.

(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:

(A) ELIGIBLE COSTS.—The term “eligible costs” means, with respect to an eligible entity that provides language assistance services to limited English proficient individuals, the product of—

(i) the average per person cost of language assistance services, determined according to the methodology devised under paragraph (2); and

(ii) the number of individuals with limited English proficiency who are provided language assistance services by the entity and for whom no reimbursement is available for such services under the amendments made by subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d), or by private health insurance.

(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term “eligible entity” means an entity that—

(i) is a Medicaid provider that is—

(I) a physician;

(II) a hospital with a low-income utilization rate (as defined in section 1923(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–4(b)(3))) of greater than 25 percent;

(III) a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)));

(IV) a hospice provider; or

(V) a palliative care provider;

(ii) not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, provides language assistance services to not less than 8 percent of the entity’s total number of patients; and

(iii) prepares and submits an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, to ascertain the entity’s eligibility for funding under this subsection.

(C) LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES.—The term “language assistance services” has the meaning given such term in section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (b).

(f) Application of Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, and other laws.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit otherwise existing obligations of recipients of Federal financial assistance under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116), or other laws that protect the civil rights of individuals.

(g) Effective date.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided and subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2025.

(2) EXCEPTION IF STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRED.—In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a State plan for child health assistance under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirement imposed by the amendments made by this section, such State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet this additional requirement before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.

(a) In general.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants to eligible entities to improve health care for patient populations that have low health literacy.

(b) Eligibility.—To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1) be a hospital, health center or clinic, health plan, or other health entity (including a nonprofit minority health organization or association); and

(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(c) Use of funds.—

(1) AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY.—A grant under subsection (a) that is awarded through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall be used—

(A) to define and increase the understanding of health literacy across all areas of health care, including end of life care;

(B) to investigate the correlation between low health literacy and health and health care;

(C) to clarify which aspects of health literacy have an effect on health outcomes; and

(D) for any other activity determined appropriate by the Director.

(2) HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—A grant under subsection (a) that is awarded through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall be used to conduct demonstration projects for interventions for patients with low health literacy that may include—

(A) the development of new disease management and end of life care programs for patients with low health literacy;

(B) the tailoring of disease management programs and end of life care addressing mental, physical, oral, and behavioral health conditions for patients with low health literacy;

(C) the translation of written health materials for patients with low health literacy;

(D) the identification, implementation, and testing of low health literacy screening tools;

(E) the conduct of educational campaigns for patients and providers about low health literacy;

(F) the conduct of educational campaigns concerning health directed specifically at patients with mental disabilities, including those with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, designed to reduce the incidence of low health literacy among these populations, which shall have instructional materials in the plain language standards promulgated under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note) for Federal agencies; and

(G) other activities determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) LOW HEALTH LITERACY.—The term “low health literacy” means the inability of an individual to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

(2) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services—

(A) acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, with respect to grants under subsection (c)(1); and

(B) acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration with respect to grants under subsection (c)(2).

(e) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

(a) Covered entity; health program or activity.—In this section:

(1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term “covered entity” means an entity described in clause (i) of section 3401(a)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2004.

(2) HEALTH PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY.—The term “health program or activity” has the meaning given such term in clause (ii) of such section 3401(a)(2)(C).

(b) Requirements.—A covered entity, in order to ensure the right of individuals with limited English proficiency to receive access to high-quality health care through the health program or activity, shall—

(1) ensure that appropriate clinical and support staff receive ongoing education and training in culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery at least annually;

(2) offer and provide appropriate language assistance services at no additional charge to each patient that is an individual with limited English proficiency at all points of contact, in a timely manner during all hours of operation;

(3) notify patients of their right to receive language services in their primary language; and

(4) utilize only qualified interpreters for an individual with limited English proficiency or qualified translators, except as provided in subsection (c).

(c) Exemptions.—The requirements of subsection (b)(4) shall not apply as follows:

(1) When a patient requests the use of family, friends, or other persons untrained in interpretation or translation if each of the following conditions are met:

(A) The interpreter requested by the patient is over the age of 18.

(B) The covered entity informs the patient in the primary language of the patient that he or she has the option of having the entity provide to the patient an interpreter and translation services without charge.

(C) The covered entity informs the patient that the entity may not require an individual with a limited English proficiency to use a family member or friend as an interpreter.

(D) The covered entity evaluates whether the person the patient wishes to use as an interpreter is competent. If the covered entity has reason to believe that such person is not competent as an interpreter, the entity provides its own interpreter to protect the covered entity from liability if the patient’s interpreter is later found not competent.

(E) If the covered entity has reason to believe that there is a conflict of interest between the interpreter and patient, the covered entity may not use the patient’s interpreter.

(F) The covered entity has the patient sign a waiver, witnessed by at least 1 individual not related to the patient, that includes the information stated in subparagraphs (A) through (E) and is translated into the patient’s primary language.

(2) When a medical emergency exists and the delay directly associated with obtaining competent interpreter or translation services would jeopardize the health of the patient, but only until a competent interpreter or translation service is available.

(d) Rule of construction.—Subsection (c)(2) shall not be construed to mean that emergency rooms or similar entities that regularly provide health care services in medical emergencies are exempt from legal or regulatory requirements related to competent interpreter services.

(a) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Medicine for the preparation and publication of a report that describes Federal efforts to ensure that all individuals with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to health care services and health care-related services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Such report shall include—

(1) a description and evaluation of the activities carried out under this Act;

(2) a description and analysis of best practices, model programs, guidelines, and other effective strategies for providing access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services;

(3) recommendations on the development and implementation of policies and practices by providers of health care services and health care-related services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including people with cognitive, hearing, vision, or print impairments;

(4) recommend guidelines or standards for health literacy and plain language, informed consent, discharge instructions, and written communications, and for improvement of health care access;

(5) a description of the effect of providing language services on quality of health care and access to care; and

(6) a description of the costs associated with or savings related to the provision of language services.

(b) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

(a) Grants authorized.—The Secretary of Education is authorized to provide grants to eligible entities for the provision of English as a second language (in this section referred to as “ESL”) instruction to individuals with limited English proficiency, including health care-related English instruction, and shall determine, after consultation with appropriate stakeholders, the mechanism for administering and distributing such grants.

(b) Eligible entity.—In this section, the term “eligible entity” means—

(1) a State; or

(2) a community-based organization that predominantly employs and serves racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)).

(c) Application.—An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall apply by submitting to the Secretary of Education an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(d) Use of grant.—An eligible entity shall use grant funds provided under this section to—

(1) develop and implement a plan for assuring the availability of ESL instruction, free of charge, to the community served by the eligible entity, that effectively integrates information about the nature of the United States health care system, how to access care, and any special language skills that may be required for individuals with limited English proficiency to access and regularly negotiate the health care system effectively;

(2) develop a plan for making ESL instruction available free to charge to individuals with limited English proficiency in the community served by the eligible entity who are seeking instruction, including, where appropriate, through the use of public-private partnerships; and

(3) provide ESL instruction to individuals with limited English proficiency in the community served by the eligible entity.

(e) Supplement, not supplant.—An eligible entity awarded a grant under this section shall use funds made available under this section to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out activities under this section.

(f) Duties of the Secretary.—The Secretary of Education shall—

(1) collect and make publicly available annual data on how much Federal, State, and local governments spend annually on ESL instruction;

(2) collect data from eligible entities awarded a grant under this section to identify the unmet needs of individuals with limited English proficiency for appropriate ESL instruction, including—

(A) the preferred written and spoken language of such individuals;

(B) the availability of enrollment in ESL instruction programs in the communities served by each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section, including the extent of waiting lists for ESL instruction, how many programs maintain waiting lists, and, for programs that do not have waiting lists, the reasons why such a list is unnecessary or otherwise not maintained;

(C) the availability of programs to geographically isolated communities;

(D) the impact of course enrollment policies, including open enrollment, on the availability of ESL instruction;

(E) the number of individuals with limited English proficiency and the number of individuals enrolled in ESL instruction programs in the communities served by each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section;

(F) the effectiveness of the ESL instruction provided through grants awarded under this section in meeting the needs of individuals receiving such instruction; and

(G) an assessment of the need for programs that integrate job training and ESL instruction, to assist individuals with limited English proficiency in obtaining better jobs;

(3) determine the cost and most appropriate methods of making ESL instruction available to all individuals with limited English proficiency in the United States who are seeking instruction; and

(4) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, issue a report to Congress that—

(A) assesses the information collected in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) and makes recommendations on steps that should be taken to realize the goal of making ESL instruction available to all individuals with limited English proficiency in the United States who are seeking instruction; and

(B) evaluates the impact of the grant program authorized under this section on the accessibility of, and ability to effectively negotiate, the health care system for individuals with limited English proficiency who have received ESL instruction funded by a grant under this section.

(g) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out this section.

(a) General provisions.—

(1) IMMUNITY.—A person injured by a violation of this title (including an amendment made by this title) by a State may bring a civil action in the appropriate Federal court for such injury in accordance with this section.

(2) REMEDIES.—In a civil action under this section for a violation of this title, such remedies shall be available as would be available in a civil action for such violation against any party other than a State.

(b) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this title may be construed to limit otherwise existing obligations of recipients of Federal financial assistance under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) or any other Federal statute.

(a) Essential benefits.—Section 1302(b)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18022(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(K) Language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations.”.

(b) Employer-Sponsored minimum essential coverage.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 36B(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively, and by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:

“(iii) COVERAGE MUST INCLUDE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND SERVICES.—Except as provided in clause (iv), an employee shall not be treated as eligible for minimum essential coverage if such coverage consists of an eligible employer-sponsored plan (as defined in section 5000A(f)(2)) and the plan does not provide coverage for language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations.”.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

(A) Section 36B(c)(2)(C) of such Code is amended by striking “clause (iii)” each place it appears in clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting “clause (iv)”.

(B) Section 36B(c)(2)(C)(iv) of such Code, as redesignated by this subsection, is amended by striking “(i) and (ii)” and inserting “(i), (ii), and (iii)”.

(c) Quality Reporting.—Section 2717(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–17(a)(1)) is amended—

(1) by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (C);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(E) reduce health disparities through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations.”.

(d) Regulations regarding internal claims and appeals and external review processes for health plans and health insurance issuers.—The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall amend the regulations in section 54.9815–2719(e) of title 26, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), section 2590.715–2719(e) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), and section 147.136(e) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), respectively, to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to which such sections apply—

(1) to provide oral interpretation services without any threshold requirements;

(2) to provide in the English versions of all notices a statement prominently displayed in not less than 15 non-English languages clearly indicating how to access the language services provided by the plan or issuer; and

(3) with respect to the requirements for providing relevant notices in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner in the applicable non-English languages, to apply a threshold that 5 percent of the population, or not less than 500 individuals, in the county is literate only in the same non-English language in order for the language to be considered an applicable non-English language.

(e) Data collection and reporting.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

(1) amend the single streamlined application form developed pursuant to section 1413 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18083) to collect the preferred spoken and written language for each household member applying for coverage under a qualified health plan through an Exchange under title I of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18001 et seq.);

(2) require navigators, certified application counselors, and other individuals assisting with enrollment to collect and report requests for language assistance; and

(3) require the toll-free telephone hotlines established pursuant to section 1311(d)(4)(B) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(4)(B)) to submit an annual report documenting the number of language assistance requests, the types of languages requested, the range and average wait time for a consumer to speak with an interpreter, the number of complaints and any steps the hotline, and any entity contracting with the Secretary to provide language services, have taken to actively address some of the consumer complaints.

(f) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall not apply to plans beginning prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

“(3) MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION.—The term ‘medically underserved population’ means—

“(A) the population of an urban or rural area designated by the Secretary as—

“(i) an area with a shortage of personal health services; or

“(ii) a population group having a shortage of such services; or

“(B) a population of individuals, not confined to a particular urban or rural area, who are designated by the Secretary as having a shortage of personal health services due to a specific demographic trait.”.

Title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2004, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Section 317F(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–7(c)(1)) is amended by striking “$500,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 2002” and inserting “such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”.

Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 755 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294e) the following:

(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the National Health Care Workforce Commission established by section 5101 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 294q) should, in carrying out its assigned duties under that section, give attention to the needs of racial and ethnic minority groups, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, individuals with mental, developmental, and physical disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning populations, and individuals who are members of multiple minority or special population groups.

(b) Reauthorization.—Section 5101(h)(2) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 294q(h)(2)) is amended by striking “such sums as may be necessary” and inserting “$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027”.

Subtitle B of title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 3001, is further amended by inserting after section 3417 the following: