Rep. Sherrill Introduces Legislation to Improve Women’s Heart Health Outcomes

Component of Congresswoman’s Jersey STRONG Agenda

Washington, DC– Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced the Heart Health Enhancement through Access to Research and Training (HEART) Act, legislation to expand our knowledge of cardiovascular health to better diagnose, prevent, and treat illnesses in women and ensure women’s health needs are not overlooked. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for women in the United States, disproportionately affecting women of color.

This bill is a part of Congresswoman Sherrill’s Jersey STRONG agenda, which prioritizes issues that are front and center for New Jersey families.

“Our medical system needs to rethink its approach to heart disease and women’s healthcare at large, from the manifestation of symptoms to pain management and treatment,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Failing to recognize the prevalence and presentation of heart disease in women and the different symptoms women can experience during a heart attack leads to poor care and in the worst-case scenario preventable death. Women in NJ-11 and across the country deserve the best possible healthcare and with this legislation, doctors and healthcare professionals will be better equipped to provide it.”

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in New Jersey and we must ensure that our healthcare system has all the resources necessary to understand and treat this deadly disease, including continuing medical education,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “Thanks to the visionary leadership and advocacy of Congresswoman Sherrill, our clinicians, medical schools and frontline teams will have greater access to educational programs that can help them save lives and improve the cardiovascular health of women across our state.”

According to a 2022 report from the American Heart Association (AHA), a study found that only 22% of physicians and 42% of cardiologists said that they felt prepared to adequately assess heart disease specific to women. The AHA also reported that women who visited emergency departments with chest pain waited 29 percent longer than men to be evaluated for possible heart attacks.

This legislation establishes a grant program that will allow hospitals, community health centers, public health departments, and medical and health professional schools to design accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs specific to heart disease in women to give our doctors the tools they need to treat women in our communities.

The HEART Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consult with qualified stakeholders when developing the requirements for the programs, including physicians, the Center for Disease Control, academic and research institutions, state medical boards, and the national CME accrediting bodies. The Secretary must report back to Congress after two years on best practices for the program, rates of physician utilization, and the impact of these programs on women’s heart health outcomes.

Last month, Rep. Sherrill unveiled her Jersey STRONG agenda, which includes the first five pieces of legislation she is introducing in the 118th Congress. With this bill package, Congresswoman Sherrill will continue to fight for New Jersey by:

Saving the SALT Deduction

Taking Care of our Veterans

Reining in Auto Thefts

Optimizing Women’s Health Care

Nominating More Labor Representatives

Getting Stuff Done