A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill, known as the Health Disparity Zones Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate specific geographic areas as Health Disparity Zones. These zones are intended to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in areas with documented poor health indicators. To achieve this, the legislation establishes tax incentives, grant programs, and student loan repayments for qualified health practitioners. It also provides a 10-percent increase in Medicare Part B payments for items and services furnished within these zones. Finally, the program lasts for 10 fiscal years, during which the Secretary must report annually to Congress on its implementation and results.
Yes· 3 of 48
- Scored +8
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The core purpose of the legislation is to designate and resource Health Disparity Zones to improve healthcare delivery.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Focuses heavily on areas with average incomes below 150 percent of the Federal poverty line.
- Scored +5
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
Directly addresses documented racial and ethnic health disparities in underserved communities.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes the appropriation of such sums as necessary for 10 years, increasing federal spending.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Authorizes significant new federal spending for grants, loan repayments, and Medicare payment increases.
- Scored -1
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Creation of multiple new grant and subsidy programs increases ongoing federal financial commitments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Workers and Employers: Under Section 4, the bill provides tax credits for qualified Health Disparity Zone workers and work opportunity tax credits for employers hiring workers whose primary duties promote healthcare access in these zones, which can help put more money in the pockets of workers and incentivize job creation.
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Grants for Community Health Improvements: Under Section 5, the Secretary may award grants to community-based organizations or local government agencies to fund innovative strategies, such as mobile health and dental clinics, patient transportation to medical appointments, and improved access to healthy food, recreation, and housing.
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Student Loan Assistance for Practitioners: Under Section 6, the Secretary will run a student loan repayment program for eligible health practitioners who agree to provide healthcare services in a Health Disparity Zone, paying up to $10,000 per year and up to $100,000 total per practitioner.
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Boosted Medicare Payments: Under Section 7, payment rates for items and services payable under Medicare Part B and furnished within a Health Disparity Zone will be increased by 10 percent, while ensuring that patient cost-sharing requirements are calculated as if this increase did not apply.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Taxpayer Burden: Under Section 10, the bill authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the period of 10 fiscal years following the enactment of the Act, which relies on federal funding that could increase the financial burden on taxpayers.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Focuses heavily on areas with average incomes below 150 percent of the Federal poverty line. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Directly addresses documented racial and ethnic health disparities in underserved communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Provides resources for non-English speakers and addresses health disparities in minority communities. Would retired people be better off under this? — Increases Medicare Part B payment rates and enhances local chronic disease management. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Explicitly directs the Secretary to conduct outreach for designating rural Health Disparity Zones. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Boosts Medicare Part B payments and improves local geriatric and chronic care access. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits minority populations residing in designated low-income census tracts with health disparities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Offers tax incentives and subgrants for healthcare practitioners and employers operating in zones. Would children be better off under this? — Includes pediatric services and low birth weight reduction among targeted health outcome improvements. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Funds resources to improve healthcare provider capacity to serve non-English speakers. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Can encompass underserved areas with high health disparities, supporting minority health outcomes. Would students be better off under this? — Provides student loan repayment options and local student internships in public health. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Applies to qualifying metropolitan and micropolitan census tracts and ZIP codes. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Expands local healthcare capacity and provider availability in medically underserved areas. Would farmers be better off under this? — Encourages the inclusion of rural areas in Health Disparity Zone designations. Would men be better off under this? — Improves general primary and chronic healthcare access for male residents in designated zones. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Targets chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes affecting middle-aged adults. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides tax credits and improved healthcare infrastructure in targeted communities. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Improves local healthcare facilities, mobile clinics, and specialized care accessibility. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Benefits low-income white residents living within designated Health Disparity Zones. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Student loan repayment assistance benefits recent graduates entering the healthcare field. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — General healthcare improvements and behavioral health access benefit vulnerable populations. Would union members be better off under this? — Workers employed in qualified health positions receive tax credits and wage incentives.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The core purpose of the legislation is to designate and resource Health Disparity Zones to improve healthcare delivery. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Explicitly includes behavioral health and mental health services in grants, provider definitions, and mobile clinics. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — Provides a 10-percent increase in Medicare Part B payments for items and services furnished in Health Disparity Zones. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — Substance use disorder services are explicitly included under eligible behavioral health services. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — Supports participating providers under State Medicaid plans operating within designated zones. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — Strengthens local healthcare infrastructure and workforce capacity which aids general public health readiness. Does this help veterans get medical care? — Veterans residing in designated zones may benefit from expanded local healthcare infrastructure and services. Does this lower what a hospital stay costs? — Aims to reduce hospital admissions and readmissions by improving outpatient and preventative care access.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Directly targets geographic areas with documented racial and ethnic health disparities for intensive resource allocation. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Focuses resources on areas with average incomes below 150 percent of the Federal poverty line. Does this make housing cost less? — Permits grant funds to be used to improve access to high-quality housing in designated zones. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Includes maternal and birth health services as targeted indicators for healthcare improvement. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Supports community-level grants that can address social determinants of health like housing.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Independent healthcare practitioners and small clinics in designated zones can receive substantial subgrants. Is this likely to create jobs? — Tax incentives and grants encourage hiring and expanding healthcare workforce capacity in underserved areas. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill provides tax credits for workers employed in designated Health Disparity Zones. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Targeted investments in underserved areas may provide modest local economic stimulus. Does this cut taxes for small businesses? — Employers hiring qualifying health workers in these zones may benefit from work opportunity tax credits. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Authorizes significant new federal spending for grants, loan repayments, and Medicare payment increases. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes the appropriation of such sums as necessary for 10 years, increasing federal spending. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Creation of multiple new grant and subsidy programs increases ongoing federal financial commitments.
- Education And Technology
- Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — Establishes a dedicated student loan repayment program up to $100,000 for qualifying health practitioners.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Explicitly encourages the designation of Health Disparity Zones in rural areas and medically underserved regions. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Allows grant funds to be used for patient transportation services to and from medical appointments.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires annual reporting to Congress on the implementation and results of the Health Disparity Zones. Does this give the federal government more power? — Empowers the HHS Secretary to designate zones and distribute federal grants and Medicare adjustments. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Requires integration with state health improvement plans and state-level participation.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Expands local healthcare provider networks accessible to veterans living in designated zones.
- 6/25/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House