[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8839 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8839

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance 
 to States on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital 
  syphilis under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2024

Ms. Caraveo (for herself, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Norton, Ms. Clarke of New 
 York, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Cohen) introduced the following bill; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance 
 to States on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital 
  syphilis under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

    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 ``Maternal and Infant Syphilis 
Prevention Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2022, there were 207,255 total syphilis cases in the 
        United States, representing an 80 percent increase since 2018 
        and continuing a decades-long upward trend.
            (2) Untreated, syphilis can seriously damage the heart and 
        brain and can cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis.
            (3) The increased rise in syphilis cases is causing the 
        rise in congenital syphilis with more than 3,700 cases 
        documented among newborns in 2022, more than 10 times the 
        number diagnosed in 2012.
            (4) When transmitted during pregnancy, congenital syphilis 
        can cause miscarriage, lifelong medical issues, and infant 
        death. Congenital syphilis can present health issues for babies 
        at birth, including neonatal death, meningitis, anemia, and 
        problems with the spleen and liver. If not treated, congenital 
        syphilis can cause bone and joint problems, vision and hearing 
        problems, issues with the nervous system, and developmental 
        delays.
            (5) High incidence rates of congenital syphilis are often 
        due to lack of timely testing or inadequate treatment during 
        pregnancy. Timely syphilis testing and treatment during 
        pregnancy might be able to prevent almost 90 percent of 
        congenital syphilis cases.
            (6) Requirements for syphilis screening among pregnant 
        women varies by State. The majority of States require syphilis 
        screening in the first visit, significantly less States require 
        syphilis screenings during the third trimester or at delivery.
            (7) Screening during the third trimester and at delivery 
        can lead to earlier detection of congenital syphilis and 
        prevent adverse health outcomes for mothers and newborn 
        infants.
            (8) Increased awareness and education are critical in 
        reducing syphilis among pregnant women to prevent congenital 
        syphilis.

SEC. 3. GUIDANCE TO STATES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MEDICAID AND 
              CHIP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue guidance to State 
Medicaid agencies on best practices with respect to actions that States 
may take, including by using waivers under section 1115 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) and authorities under title XIX of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1397aa et seq.), for the following purposes:
            (1) Improving access to expand syphilis screening for 
        pregnant women and babies.
            (2) Best practices for educating medical professionals and 
        pregnant women with respect to syphilis.
            (3) Strategies for integrating telehealth services and 
        training for providers and patients on the use of telehealth, 
        including working with interpreters to furnish health services 
        and providing resources with respect to congenital syphilis in 
        multiple languages.
            (4) Best practices for increasing testing for syphilis in 
        the third trimester and at delivery.
            (5) Improving treatment for syphilis and congenital 
        syphilis.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Medicaid.--The term ``Medicaid'' means the program 
        established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) for purposes of titles XIX and XXI of such 
        Act.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and 
shall make publicly available, a report analyzing the implementation by 
States of the best practices described in subsection (a).
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