Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act or the TREAT Long COVID Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to create or expand the capacity of clinics that treat patients with persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 (i.e., Long COVID). Eligible recipients include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, urban Indian health centers, and state and local health departments.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7482 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7482
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to eligible entities for creating or enhancing capacity to treat
patients with Long COVID through a multidisciplinary approach.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2022
Ms. Pressley (for herself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and Mr. Beyer)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to eligible entities for creating or enhancing capacity to treat
patients with Long COVID through a multidisciplinary approach.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Targeting Resources for Equitable
Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act'' or the ``TREAT Long COVID
Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MULTIDISCIPLINARY LONG COVID CLINICS.
(a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall award
grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the purpose of
creating or enhancing capacity to treat patients with Long COVID (also
referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and post-COVID
conditions) through a multidisciplinary approach.
(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under this
section shall use the grant, for the purpose described in subsection
(a), to--
(1) enhance the capacity of one or more existing
multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics to serve the Long COVID
population; or
(2) create one or more multidisciplinary clinics to address
the physical and mental health needs of Long COVID patients.
(c) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall be a health care provider, Federally
qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))), rural health clinic, urban Indian
health center, or State or local public health department, that--
(1)(A) operates an existing multidisciplinary Long COVID
clinic or other specialized Long COVID program; or
(B) demonstrates an intent to create a multidisciplinary
Long COVID clinic or other specialized Long COVID program; and
(2) submits to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information and assurances
as the Secretary may require.
(d) Equitable Access.--In order to ensure equitable access
treatment--
(1) no grantee under this section shall deny access to
treatment with respect to Long COVID based on insurance
coverage, date or method of diagnosis, or previous
hospitalization;
(2) a grantee under this section shall with respect to Long
COVID--
(A) offer equity-centered resources, information,
and training to safety net health systems; and
(B) disseminate best practices and treatment
approaches that enhance access to high-quality care to
everyone where they live; and
(3) treatment for Long COVID shall be included as a COVID-
19 treatment, consistent with the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (Public Law 117-2).
(e) Grant Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under this section
shall not exceed $2,000,000.
(f) Grant Period.--The period of a grant under this section shall
be up to three years, with an opportunity for renewal.
(g) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(1) submit a plan to engage with medically underserved
communities, and with populations disproportionately impacted
by COVID-19, in a degree sufficient to advance health care
equity in Long COVID treatment and outcomes;
(2) demonstrate capacity (or an intent to build capacity)
to facilitate patient access to multidisciplinary health care
providers with expertise in treating Long COVID symptoms and
other complex post-viral conditions, including such providers
who are primary and specialty care physicians (such as
physiatrists, neurologists, cardiologists, immunologists, and
pulmonologists), therapists, nurses, care coordinators, social
workers, nutritionists, and behavioral health specialists; and
(3) submit a plan to ensure ongoing multidisciplinary
continuing education on infection-triggered conditions for--
(A) physicians treating Long COVID; and
(B) other physicians and health care workers who
are not treating Long COVID, but are otherwise serving
patients in the community.
(h) Reports.--
(1) Annual reports by grantees to secretary.--On an annual
basis, a recipient of a grant under this section shall--
(A) submit to the Secretary, and make publicly
available, a report on the activities carried out
through the grant; and
(B) include quantitative and qualitative
evaluations of such activities, including the
experience of individuals who received health care
through such grant.
(2) Annual reports by secretary to congress.--Not later
than the end of each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025, the
Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly
available, a report that--
(A) summarizes the reports received under paragraph
(1);
(B) evaluates the effectiveness of grants under
this section; and
(C) makes recommendations with respect to expanding
coverage for clinical care for Long COVID.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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