[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6682 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6682
To advance research, promote awareness, and provide patient support
with respect to endometriosis, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Adams, Mr.
Cisneros, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Friedman, Mr. Frost, Mr. Goldman
of New York, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mrs. McIver, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Pocan, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko,
Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Brown, Ms. Lofgren,
and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To advance research, promote awareness, and provide patient support
with respect to endometriosis, and for other purposes.
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 ``Endometriosis Coverage, Awareness,
Research, and Education Act'' or the ``Endometriosis CARE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to
the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause
severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant.
Endometriosis often causes severe pain in the pelvis,
especially during menstrual periods. Some people also have pain
during sex or when using the bathroom. Some people have trouble
getting pregnant.
(2) It causes a chronic inflammatory reaction that may
result in the formation of scar tissue (adhesions, fibrosis)
within the pelvis and other parts of the body. The cause of
endometriosis is unknown. There is no known way to prevent
endometriosis. There is no cure, but its symptoms can be
treated with medicines or, in some cases, surgery.
SEC. 3. ENDOMETRIOSIS COVERAGE, AWARENESS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION.
Part F of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287d
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 486C. ENDOMETRIOSIS COVERAGE, AWARENESS, RESEARCH, AND
EDUCATION.
``(a) Advancing Endometriosis Data Collection, Surveillance, and
Research.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall conduct or
support data collection, surveillance, and research related to
endometriosis.
``(2) Use of funds.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Director may--
``(A) conduct or support research and related
activities regarding endometriosis, including research
to improve treatment options and develop a cure for
endometriosis;
``(B) establish or expand an internet clearinghouse
to catalog existing endometriosis research, treatment
options, and related information for patients and
health care professionals; or
``(C) carry out related activities as determined by
the Director.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(b) Identifying Barriers to Accessing Treatments for
Endometriosis Symptoms.--
``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall conduct an analysis of
barriers that individuals diagnosed with endometriosis face in
accessing treatments for endometriosis symptoms, including
transportation barriers and barriers caused by health care
professional shortages.
``(2) Topics.--In carrying out the analysis under paragraph
(1), the Secretary may--
``(A) assess data from the Transformed Medicaid
Statistical Information System related to services
furnished to individuals diagnosed with endometriosis
for the treatment of endometriosis symptoms under State
Medicaid programs under title XIX of the Social
Security Act and Children's Health Insurance Programs
under title XXI of such Act; and
``(B) assess data related to services furnished to
individuals diagnosed with endometriosis for the
treatment of endometriosis symptoms under group health
plans or group or individual health insurance coverage
offered by a health insurance issuer (as those terms
are defined in section 2791).
``(3) Data collection.--To carry out the analysis under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may require--
``(A) group health plans or issuers of group or
individual health insurance coverage to provide such
information as may be required to assess barriers that
individuals diagnosed with endometriosis face in
accessing treatments for endometriosis symptoms,
including a lack of insurance coverage or cost-sharing
requirements for such treatments; and
``(B) State Medicaid programs and Children's Health
Insurance Programs to collect and report data related
to services furnished to individuals diagnosed with
endometriosis for the treatment of endometriosis
symptoms through the Transformed Medicaid Statistical
Information System, including data stratified by
relevant demographic characteristics.
``(4) Privacy requirements.--In carrying out the analysis
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that the
privacy and confidentiality of individual patients are
protected in a manner consistent with relevant privacy and
confidentiality laws.
``(5) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the
Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the
Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the
analysis carried out under this subsection.
``(c) Education and Dissemination of Information With Respect to
Endometriosis.--
``(1) Endometriosis public education program.--The
Secretary shall develop, and disseminate to the public,
information regarding endometriosis, including information on--
``(A) the awareness, incidence, and prevalence of
endometriosis, with a particular focus on individuals
from racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in
section 1707(g)) and other underserved groups;
``(B) culturally and linguistically appropriate
support that is available to address the mental health
impacts of endometriosis; and
``(C) the availability, as medically appropriate,
of the range of treatment options for symptoms of
endometriosis.
``(2) Dissemination of information.--The Secretary may
disseminate information under paragraph (1) directly or through
arrangements with intra-agency initiatives, nonprofit
organizations, consumer groups, institutions of higher
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965), or Federal, State, or local public private
partnerships.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(d) Information to Health Care Providers With Respect to
Endometriosis.--
``(1) Dissemination of information.--The Secretary shall,
in consultation with relevant health care professional
societies and associations, disseminate information to health
care professionals, health care-related organizations, and
health systems to promote evidence-based care for individuals
with endometriosis, including information related to--
``(A) detecting and diagnosing endometriosis;
``(B) providing care for individuals with
endometriosis;
``(C) communicating with patients about
endometriosis; and
``(D) related topics.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(e) Endometriosis Disparities Study Through National Academies.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to enter an
agreement, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this section, with the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the
`National Academies') under which the National Academies agree
to conduct a study on endometriosis disparities.
``(2) Study requirements.--The agreement under paragraph
(1) shall direct the National Academies to--
``(A) assess endometriosis prevalence, detection,
treatment, and outcome disparities by race, ethnicity,
geography, primary language, sexual orientation, gender
identity, disability status, and insurance status, and
related topics as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) make recommendations to the Congress, Federal
agencies, health care professionals, and other relevant
stakeholders based on the National Academies' findings
pursuant to subparagraph (A).
``(3) Report.--The agreement under paragraph (1) shall
direct the National Academies to complete the study under this
section, and transmit to the Congress and make publicly
available a report on the results of the study, not later than
24 months after the date of enactment of this section.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $500,000.''.
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