PREEMPT Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9061
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to improve maternal health outcomes by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to states on covering tests for the early screening and detection of preeclampsia under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Key Provisions
- The bill, titled the Preeclampsia Risk Evaluation and Evidence-based Management through Personalized Testing Act (PREEMPT Act), adds a new Section 1949 to Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
- Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must issue guidance to states and Medicaid managed care organizations on:
- Best practices for early screening, detection, and management of preeclampsia in eligible pregnant women.
- Which tests for preeclampsia detection may qualify as covered medical assistance, including consideration of advanced biomarker tests.
- The Secretary must provide technical assistance to states within 30 days of a request regarding specific test coverage, but states are not required to seek this assistance.
- Biomarker tests considered include those cleared under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as devices and laboratory-developed tests from certified high-complexity labs under the Public Health Service Act.
- The bill includes congressional findings on preeclampsia prevalence, maternal mortality rates (including racial disparities), links to preterm births, economic costs exceeding $2 billion annually, and related long-term health risks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces a new federal requirement for the Secretary to issue targeted guidance on preeclampsia test coverage under Medicaid and CHIP, which did not previously exist in Title XIX. It does not mandate state coverage of specific tests but clarifies options for inclusion as medical assistance and provides a framework for technical support.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and distribute guidance, potentially increasing administrative workload for states and managed care organizations in evaluating test coverage.
- On citizens: May expand access to early detection tools for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, potentially reducing complications from preeclampsia, especially in high-risk groups.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pregnant women eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, particularly those with risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, or multiple pregnancies.
- State Medicaid and CHIP agencies, along with Medicaid managed care organizations.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services and related federal staff.
- Healthcare providers and clinical laboratories offering biomarker or other screening tests.
- Populations disproportionately affected by preeclampsia, including Black women.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within existing federal authority over Medicaid and CHIP funding and does not appear to raise new constitutional questions, as it focuses on guidance rather than mandates. It emphasizes evidence-based approaches to maternal health without altering state plan requirements or federal financial participation rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Preeclampsia Risk Evaluation and Evidence-based Management through Personalized Testing Act — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (5 pages)