Sec. 502. Addressing health care disparities

419 words·~2 min read·/bill/118/s/1655/is/section-502

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The Center, in coordination with the Office of Health Equity established under section 1712 of the Public Health Service Act (as added by section 616) and other agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services determined relevant by the Secretary, shall evaluate approaches for the collection of data under this Act, to be performed in conjunction with existing quality reporting requirements and programs under this Act, that allow for the ongoing, accurate, and timely collection of data on disparities in health care items and services and performance on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, or socioeconomic status.

In conducting such evaluation, the Center shall consider the following objectives: Protecting patient privacy. Minimizing the administrative burdens of data collection and reporting on providers under the Medicare for All Program. Improving data on race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, and socioeconomic status. Not later than 18 months after the date on which benefits are first available under section 106(a), the Center shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a).

Such report shall, taking into consideration the results of such evaluation— identify approaches (including defining methodologies) for identifying and collecting and evaluating data on health care disparities on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, or socioeconomic status under the Medicare for All Program; and include recommendations on the most effective strategies and approaches to reporting quality measures, as appropriate, on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, or socioeconomic status.

Not later than 4 years after the submission of the report under paragraph (1), and every 4 years thereafter, the Center shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report that includes recommendations for improving the identification of health care disparities based on the analyses of data collected under subsection (c). Not later than 2 years after the date on which benefits are first available under section 106(a), the Secretary shall implement the approaches identified in the report submitted under subsection (b)(1) for the ongoing, accurate, and timely collection and evaluation of data on health care disparities on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language use, age, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), geography, or socioeconomic status.