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H.R. 880: Heart Health Enhancement through Access to Research and Training Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Feb 8, 2023 (Introduced).

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 880

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 8, 2023

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To establish a program to provide for women’s heart health continuing medical education, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Heart Health Enhancement through Access to Research and Training Act.

2.

Continuing medical education programs for physicians on women’s heart health

Part A of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300w et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

1910A.

Continuing medical education programs for physicians on women’s heart health

(a)

In general

For activities in addition to the activities which may be carried out by States under section 1904(a)(1)(A), the Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to support a program to establish and implement continuing education programs for physicians designed to improve the prevention, identification, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women.

(b)

Use of funds

A recipient of a grant under this section may use grant funds to establish, for physicians who provide health care services that include cardiovascular health—

(1)

a women’s heart health continuing medical education program that meets the requirements specified in subsection (c); or

(2)

to expand or improve upon a women’s heart health continuing medical education program that—

(A)

meets such requirements; and

(B)

is carried out by such recipient as of the date of the enactment of this section.

(c)

Requirements

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall establish requirements for women’s heart health continuing medical education programs to be carried out using funds awarded through a grant under this section.

(2)

Minimum criteria

At a minimum, the Secretary shall require that programs referred to in paragraph (1) be—

(A)

evidence-based;

(B)

focused on cardiovascular health and disease specific to women; and

(C)

designed to allow applicable State licensing bodies to provide continuing medical education credit for the completion of such a program; and

(D)

provided by an entity that is accredited as a continuing medical education provider by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, or the American Osteopathic Association; and

(3)

Promotion plan

As a condition on receipt of grant funds under this section, an eligible entity shall certify to the Secretary that the entity has in effect a plan to advertise the continuing education program or programs established, or expanded or improved upon, pursuant to this section to physicians who provide health care services that include cardiovascular health.

(4)

Collaboration

In developing the requirements for continuing medical education programs under this subsection, the Secretary shall collaborate with relevant stakeholders that specialize in cardiovascular health for women, including—

(A)

allopathic physicians and osteopathic physicians;

(B)

academic and research institutions;

(C)

representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(D)

representatives of State medical boards; and

(E)

representatives of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association.

(5)

Geographic and population diversity

The stakeholders referred to in paragraph (4) shall—

(A)

represent a diverse set of geographic areas, including rural, urban, and suburban areas; and

(B)

include representatives of high population density States (as determined by the Secretary).

(d)

Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on—

(1)

best practices for the program established under this section;

(2)

the rates of physician and medical professional utilization at eligible entities of training provided through the program;

(3)

obstacles faced by grant recipients in carrying out such training; and

(4)

the impact of the grant programs with respect to women’s heart health outcomes.

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Continuing medical education program

The term continuing medical education program means a series of courses that meet requirements for continuing medical education or continuing education by—

(A)

the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education;

(B)

the American Medical Association;

(C)

the American Academy of Family Physicians;

(D)

the American Osteopathic Association; or

(E)

another medical professional organization or certified accrediting body, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—

(A)

a hospital;

(B)

a community health center;

(C)

another health care setting;

(D)

a State, local, territorial, or Tribal public health department;

(E)

a medical or other health professional school; and

(F)

any other appropriate public or private nonprofit entity (or consortia of such entities).

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.

.