Health Equity and Accountability Act Reintroduced in US Congress

US Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) and Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024. The legislation is designed to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities, women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. HEAA has been introduced in every Congress since 2003.

The American Kidney Fund (AKF), a nonprofit working on behalf of Americans with kidney disease, praised the move and urged passage of the legislation. In a statement, LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and chief executive officer, noted that Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans are at a higher risk of developing kidney disease than White Americans.

“Even though Black Americans make up a larger portion of Americans living with kidney failure, they have historically been less likely than White patients to be placed on the transplant waiting list,” Burton said. “HEAA will help address these issues by increasing payment for staff-assisted home dialysis and investing in patient education, as well as expanding ongoing research into kidney transplants in minority populations. The bill also calls for a report that would examine racial disparities in the use of home dialysis and examines coverage for, and use of, home dialysis in rural communities. The legislation will expand the Medicare Annual Wellness Benefit to include kidney disease screening, which is crucial for early detection and prevention of late-stage kidney disease, and support research into the environmental and occupational causes and biological mechanisms that contribute to kidney disease.”