S. 1219 – Reading Mode

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

(a)

In general

Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting including people with disabilities within these populations; after public housing,; and

(B)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting including accessible healthcare services before the semicolon;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)(A)—

(i)

in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting , including accessible healthcare services after health services;

(ii)

in clause (iv), by inserting , including people with disabilities, after enable individuals; and

(iii)

in clause (v), by inserting , including people with disabilities, after health center; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Disability

The term disability has the meaning given such term in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

;

(3)

in subsection (c)(1)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i)

by inserting , including people with disabilities within these medically underserved populations before the first period; and

(ii)

by inserting accessible after lease of; and

(B)

in subparagraph (E), by inserting non-profit health and wellness agencies, after local hospitals,;

(4)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting or with disabilities before the semicolon; and

(B)

in paragraph (3), by inserting or for addressing barriers to care affecting people with disabilities in their communities before the period;

(5)

in subsection (e)(6)(A)(ii), insert “, or will serve a significant population of people with disabilities” after “other applicants”;

(6)

in subsection (f)(1)(B), by inserting , including people with disabilities, after women and children;

(7)

in subsection (g)(1)(A), by inserting , including people with disabilities before the semicolon;

(8)

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;

(9)

in subsection (i)(1), by inserting , inclusive of people with disabilities in these communities before the period; and

(10)

in subsection (j)(4)—

(A)

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

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ; or; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(C)

provide communication devices, aids, or services to meet disability accessibility requirements.

(b)

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).