II
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1219
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 19, 2023
Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Welch, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide health equity for people with disabilities.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Health Equity for People with Disabilities Act
.
Health equity for people with disabilities
In general
Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting including people with disabilities within these populations;
after public housing,
; and
in subparagraph (A), by inserting including accessible healthcare services
before the semicolon;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1)(A)—
in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting , including accessible healthcare services
after health services
;
in clause (iv), by inserting , including people with disabilities,
after enable individuals
; and
in clause (v), by inserting , including people with disabilities,
after health center
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Disability
The term disability has the meaning given such term in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
;
in subsection (c)(1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
by inserting , including people with disabilities within these medically underserved populations
before the first period; and
by inserting accessible
after lease of
; and
in subparagraph (E), by inserting non-profit health and wellness agencies,
after local hospitals,
;
in subsection (d)—
in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting or with disabilities
before the semicolon; and
in paragraph (3), by inserting or for addressing barriers to care affecting people with disabilities in their communities
before the period;
in subsection (e)(6)(A)(ii), insert “, or will serve a significant population of people with disabilities” after “other applicants”;
in subsection (f)(1)(B), by inserting , including people with disabilities,
after women and children
;
in subsection (g)(1)(A), by inserting , including people with disabilities
before the semicolon;
in subsection (h)(1), by striking and veterans at risk of homelessness
and inserting veterans at risk of homelessness, and people with disabilities who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
;
in subsection (i)(1), by inserting , inclusive of people with disabilities in these communities
before the period; and
in subsection (j)(4)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ; or
; and
by adding at the end the following:
provide communication devices, aids, or services to meet disability accessibility requirements.
.
Rule of construction
Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be construed to modify the manner in which funding is provided to targeted populations on the date of enactment of this Act or to otherwise shift the focus of programming for such populations. Such amendments are intended to ensure that members of targeted populations with disabilities are included in such programming, have access to care, and are served under programs under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (as amended by this section).