Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3944
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-01T18:53:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Women's Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 aims to reauthorize and expand the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program. This program focuses on providing additional preventive health services to women, particularly those at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, by building on existing breast and cervical cancer screening efforts.
Key Provisions
- Supplemental Grants for Preventive Services: The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can award grants to organizations already receiving funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings. These grants support:
- Screenings for risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, and others.
- Evidence-based health education from qualified providers to improve outcomes such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes, or obesity.
- Referrals for medical treatment and follow-up care where possible.
- Evaluation of these activities through monitoring and reporting to the Secretary.
- Eligibility: Services target women eligible for breast and cervical cancer screening grants, plus other high-risk women as defined by the Secretary.
- Authorized Providers: Services must be delivered by cancer screening entities or other health care organizations approved by the Secretary.
- Funding Authorization: $250 million is authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to implement the program.
- GAO Study Requirement: By September 30, 2027, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to relevant congressional committees on the program's operations, including:
- Estimates of eligible individuals.
- Trends in the number of people served.
- Factors influencing these trends, such as barriers to accessing cardiovascular screenings.
- Cost-effectiveness analysis related to patient health outcomes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces the entire Section 1509 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300n-4a) with updated language that expands the WISEWOMAN program beyond its original focus on basic screenings tied to cancer programs.
- Introduces broader preventive services for cardiovascular risks, explicit requirements for health education and follow-up, and a new funding stream with a five-year authorization.
- Adds a mandatory GAO evaluation to assess program effectiveness, which was not previously specified in this section.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The CDC will manage grant distribution and oversight, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing public health monitoring. The GAO study could inform future funding and policy adjustments.
- On Citizens: Underserved and high-risk women, especially those without regular access to healthcare, may gain improved screenings, education, and referrals, potentially leading to earlier detection and management of heart disease risks, reducing long-term health costs.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation is focused on domestic public health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Women and Patients: Primarily low-income, uninsured, or high-risk women eligible for preventive services, who stand to benefit from expanded health access.
- Health Care Providers and Organizations: Grantees under existing cancer screening programs and other approved entities, which will receive supplemental funding to deliver services.
- Government Entities: CDC (program administration), Department of Health and Human Services (oversight), and congressional committees (informed by GAO report).
- Researchers and Policymakers: Benefit from evaluation data to refine women's health initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for preventive care under the Public Health Service Act without creating new mandates; ensures services align with evidence-based standards to avoid challenges over efficacy.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues, as it involves standard congressional authority over public health spending and does not infringe on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Senators Alsobrooks and Britt) highlights cross-party support for women's health; the GAO study promotes accountability, potentially influencing future appropriations debates amid rising focus on chronic disease prevention.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 2026-02-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (4 pages)