S. 2347 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jul 17, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryPrevents discriminatory health care practices
This bill makes it illegal for health care providers to give unequal care based on race, religion, or other characteristics. It sets up a process where the Department of Health and Human Services can investigate complaints, try to resolve disputes, and punish providers who don't follow the rules. The bill also requires health care providers to report data broken down by demographic groups so disparities can be tracked, and it rewards hospitals through Medicare that meet standards for equitable care.
How it affects you
If you receive health care, this bill aims to ensure you get high-quality care regardless of your background. It creates a way for you to file a complaint if you believe you've been treated unequally by a health care provider, and gives the federal government power to investigate and take action. The bill doesn't directly change how most people access health care day-to-day, but it sets up new protections and oversight to address health disparities.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jul 17, 2025)
Equal Health Care for All Act
This bill prohibits the inequitable provision of health care (i.e., failure to meet a high-quality care standard that is discriminatory in intent or effect) based on race, religion, or other characteristics. It also revises reporting requirements, adds equity-related measures to certain Medicare programs, and makes other changes to reduce health disparities.
To enforce the prohibition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish an administrative process to resolve complaints about inequitable health care. HHS must investigate these complaints and mediate agreements to resolve issues. In the event of noncompliance with a mediated agreement, an aggrieved individual may bring a civil action. HHS may exclude from federal health care programs providers HHS determines engaged in the inequitable provision of health care.
The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against health care providers to enforce the prohibition, including for punitive damages.
Health care providers must also report data in formats that allow disaggregation by demographic factors. Within 90 days after the bill's enactment, HHS must issue proposed regulations to carry out this requirement.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must include measures related to equitable health care in the Medicare value-based purchasing program for hospitals. This program provides incentive payments based on quality of care.
The bill also establishes (1) the Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation of the bill, and (2) grants for hospitals to promote equitable health care.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2347
A BILL
Equal Health Care for All Act
Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) · Introduced Jul 17, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 17, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4458)”
Sections
Sections · 9
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2FindingsNo change
- Sec. 3Data collection and reportingNo change
- Sec. 4Requiring equitable health care in the hospital value-based purchasing programNo change
- Sec. 5Inequitable provision of health care as a basis for permissive exclusion from Medicare and other Federal health care programsNo change
- Sec. 6Office for Civil Rights and Health Equity of the Department of Health and Human ServicesNo change
- Sec. 7Prohibiting discrimination in health careNo change
- Sec. 8Federal Health Equity CommissionNo change
- Sec. 9Grants for hospitals to promote equitable health care and outcomesNo change