Booker Reintroduces Legislation to Promote Health Equity and Access to Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced the John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment (EMMT) Act, legislation that would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to work with experts to consider health disparities when developing payment models. U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL-7th) will introduce the House companion bill next week.

CMMI, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, focuses on creating and testing new value-based payment models. However, it is not mandated to take into account social determinants of health like a patient’s environment, education, and economic background during the testing and implementation of these new payment models. This has resulted in health providers favoring patients with better clinical outcomes, leaving marginalized communities such as women, people in rural areas, and Black and Brown individuals underrepresented in the development of payment models.

The John Lewis EMMT Act would direct CMMI to consult with experts on health disparities, such as the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, and the Office on Women’s Health, on developing new payment models that focus not only on lowering costs but also advancing health equity and improving access to care.

“Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and it is time for our policies to reflect that,” said Senator Booker. “The John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act is a necessary step toward ensuring that all Americans, regardless of their race or ethnicity, have access to the fair and quality care they deserve. Let us honor the legacy of Representative John Lewis by passing this important legislation and taking bold action towards improving health equity and health outcomes for everyone.”

“Our late colleague, Congressman John Lewis, dedicated his life to the fight for fairness and equity, including the right to quality affordable health care for Americans of every background,” said Representative Sewell. “Along with Senator Booker, I’m proud to be introducing legislation which would advance his legacy by expanding access to health care for minorities, underserved areas, and high-risk individuals. The John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act will go a long way in helping us ensure coordinated care and build a fairer and more just health care system for all.”

Specifically, the John Lewis EMMT Act would direct the CMMI to:

• Consider a model’s impact on access to care for people of color, women, and people in rural areas in addition to cost and quality
• Include experts in health disparities and social determinants of health during the evaluation and review process for new payment models
• Create a Social Determinants of Health Model that focuses on health conditions of those dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, behavioral health, and maternal mortality

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

The full text of the bill can be found here.