Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6897

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-01-26T13:33:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Thyroid Disease Coverage, Awareness, Research, and Education Act of 2025 (H.R. 6897), also known as the Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2025, aims to advance scientific research on thyroid disease, raise public and professional awareness, educate communities, and improve access to diagnosis, treatment, and care. It focuses on addressing gaps in knowledge, especially disparities affecting specific groups like women and racial/ethnic minorities.

Key Provisions

• Research Initiatives (Section 2): The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must conduct or fund research on thyroid disease, including:
• Root causes, better diagnostic tools, and improved treatments.
• Thyroid cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship (with emphasis on impacts on women of reproductive age).
• Symptom management for patients, even after tests normalize.
• Disparities in prevalence, detection, treatment, and outcomes based on race, ethnicity, geography, language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and insurance status.
• Recommendations to close these disparity gaps.
• An interim report to Congress within 24 months, made publicly available.
• Authorizes $30 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Analysis of Research Gaps and Disparities (Section 3): HHS must:
• Identify gaps in diagnosing and treating thyroid disease.
• Analyze disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations (e.g., women, racial/ethnic minorities), reasons for these impacts (like access to specialized care), and healthcare providers' knowledge levels.
• Recommend better diagnostic, treatment, and payment options.
• Use data from sources like Medicaid, Medicare, cancer surveillance programs, health surveys, and insurance plans.
• Request data from insurers and state programs on barriers like coverage limits or costs, while protecting patient privacy under laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
• Submit a preliminary report to Congress within 2 years and a final report by the end of fiscal year 2030, both publicly available.
• Authorizes $30 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Public Awareness Campaign (Section 4): HHS must launch a campaign to:
• Educate on thyroid disease prevalence, impacts, disparities (especially for women), treatment options, symptoms, and potential benefits of screening (e.g., during pregnancy).
• Provide resources to healthcare providers on detection, care, patient communication, reducing bias, and disease causes, in partnership with professional groups.
• Disseminate information through nonprofits, universities, and public-private partnerships.
• Authorizes $3 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Collaboration and Definitions (Sections 5 and 6): HHS must work with professional societies (e.g., medical associations) and internal agencies like the National Institutes of Health. Defines key terms, such as "thyroid disease" (disorders of thyroid function or structure, including nodules and cancer) and "racial and ethnic minority group."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new mandates and funding for thyroid-specific research, data analysis, and awareness efforts, without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing HHS authorities (e.g., data from Medicare/Medicaid) by requiring targeted studies on disparities and symptom management, which were not previously prioritized at this scale for thyroid conditions. It also authorizes new appropriations, potentially expanding federal health equity programs.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HHS will gain responsibilities for research coordination, data requests from states and insurers, and reporting, requiring new resources and inter-agency collaboration. Authorizes up to $93 million total (research and analysis) plus $15 million (awareness) from 2026–2030, which could strain budgets if not fully funded by Congress.
• Citizens: Patients with thyroid disease, particularly women and underserved groups, may benefit from improved diagnostics, treatments, reduced disparities, and better symptom relief. Public campaigns could increase early detection and awareness, potentially lowering long-term health costs and improving quality of life.
• International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestically focused on U.S. health programs and data.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Patients and Communities: Individuals with thyroid disease, especially women, racial/ethnic minorities, pregnant people, and those with disabilities or limited insurance, who face higher risks or barriers to care.
• Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Doctors, nurses, and professional societies (e.g., endocrinologists) will receive training and resources to improve evidence-based care and reduce biases.
• Government and Insurers: HHS, state Medicaid/CHIP programs, Medicare, private insurers, and group health plans must provide data and potentially adjust coverage for thyroid treatments.
• Researchers and Nonprofits: Universities, advocacy groups, and the National Institutes of Health will support or conduct studies, filling knowledge gaps.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes privacy protections under existing laws (e.g., HIPAA) for data collection, ensuring compliance without new regulatory burdens. Authorizes voluntary data requests from private entities, which could face legal challenges if seen as overly intrusive, though it's framed as collaborative.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to fund public health; no apparent free speech or privacy violations, as it promotes education without mandating actions.
• Political: Promotes health equity by addressing disparities, potentially appealing across party lines but requiring bipartisan support for appropriations. Could influence future endocrine health policies, highlighting under-researched conditions like subclinical hypothyroidism (mild underactive thyroid with lingering symptoms).

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Thyroid Disease Coverage, Awareness, Research, and Education Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (10 pages)