What does Preamble of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This bill aims to amend the Public Health Service Act. The stated purpose is to improve reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act.

What does FINDINGS. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section outlines findings related to reproductive health care access for individuals with disabilities. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have a disability, and a significant portion of these individuals are parents or can become pregnant. Existing laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act aim to ensure equitable healthcare access for people with disabilities. Disabled individuals encounter unique barriers to reproductive health care, including accessibility issues, lack of accessible equipment, and insufficient provider training. Reproductive health care is critical for the long-term health of disabled individuals, who experience higher mortality rates from related cancers and maternal health complications. The U.S. Access Board has established accessibility standards for medical equipment, but awareness and implementation among providers are low. Stereotypes about individuals with disabilities can impede reproductive autonomy and access to respectful care. Restrictions on reproductive health care disproportionately affect disabled individuals who already face barriers. Individuals with and without disabilities desire children at similar rates, but disabled individuals often experience disparities in contraception counseling, prenatal care, and pregnancy outcomes. Increasing diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce is identified as crucial for improving patient outcomes, but representation of disabled students in medical education is low.

What does PROGRAM FOR TRAINING THE WORKFORCE. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section establishes a program for training the workforce concerning reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to carry out these training programs. Eligible entities include public or private nonprofit entities with expertise in serving individuals with disabilities, such as health care providers, institutions of higher education, and entities led by individuals with disabilities. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in areas like disability law, accessibility standards, trauma-informed care, and culturally and linguistically appropriate communication. Training programs must cover topics including disability clinical care curricula, discrimination impacting access to care, culturally competent care, and the rights of individuals with disabilities. Recipients of awards are required to evaluate the program's outcomes and submit reports to the Secretary. The Secretary will compile these reports and submit them to relevant congressional committees and post them on the Department's website.

What does PROGRAM FOR EXPANDING THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section establishes a program to expand the reproductive health care provider workforce, specifically focusing on increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities, including schools of medicine and nursing, to support these efforts. Funds awarded under this program can be used to develop a competitive applicant pool, support academic performance, recruit and retain individuals with disabilities, and improve training programs. The program emphasizes culturally and linguistically competent care for unserved and underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities. Preference will be given to applications involving a comprehensive approach with multiple entities. Stipends provided under this section will not affect an individual’s eligibility for other Federal or State benefits. The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the award period's end, detailing the program's activities and impact. The section authorizes $15,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.

What does EXPANDING THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE NURSING WORKFORCE. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the reproductive health care nursing workforce, specifically focusing on individuals with disabilities. The Secretary is authorized to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to support activities that develop a pipeline for individuals with disabilities entering the reproductive nursing workforce. Funds may be used to conduct activities such as developing a competitive applicant pool, supporting academic performance, recruiting and retaining individuals with disabilities, and improving clinical education and research. Preference will be given to applications involving a comprehensive approach through multiple entities. The Secretary must consider current enrollment trends and align with other Health Resources and Services Administration training programs when awarding grants. Assistance provided under this subsection will not affect an individual’s eligibility for Federal or State benefits. The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress regarding the activities carried out under this subsection. The section authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out these provisions.

What does PROGRAM FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section establishes a program for reproductive health education targeted towards individuals with disabilities. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities. Eligible entities include public or private nonprofit organizations with expertise in serving individuals with disabilities, such as health care providers, institutions of higher education, and organizations led by individuals with disabilities. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of best practices, experience working with individuals with disabilities, and expertise in developing accessible materials. Funds may be used to carry out education programs, develop accessible materials, provide information on abortion care options, and promote community engagement. Award recipients are required to evaluate the success of their programs and submit reports to the Secretary. The Secretary will compile and disseminate these reports to Congress and the public. The terms 'disability,' 'Indian Tribe,' 'Tribal organization,' and 'Urban Indian organization' are defined within this section. The section authorizes $10,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.

What does NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section establishes a National Technical Assistance Center within the Administration for Community Living. The Center will provide recommendations and best practices to States, territories, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations to improve coordination of services for individuals with disabilities. The Center will offer technical assistance to healthcare providers on culturally and linguistically accessible sexual and reproductive health care. The Center will develop resources to assist covered entities in complying with federal laws and regulations. The Center will also develop resources for individuals with disabilities facing barriers to accessible care. The terms 'disability,' 'Indian Tribe,' 'Tribal organization,' and 'Urban Indian organization' are defined for the purposes of this section, referencing existing legislation. There is authorized $10,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section.

What does RESEARCH STUDY. of Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act do?

This section mandates a research study by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living. The study will identify effective programs and services for sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. It will also analyze the effectiveness of partnerships between federal, state, tribal, and local entities in providing accessible sexual and reproductive health care. The study aims to identify necessary agreements to facilitate data and public health research on barriers to sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. A report detailing the study's results must be submitted to specified congressional committees within three years of the Act's enactment. The terms 'disability' and 'disabilities' are defined using the meanings provided in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The section authorizes $15,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal year 2027 to carry out the study.

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Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

Last updated: 5/14/2026 · Introduced: 5/14/2026

Author: Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a workforce training program to improve reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities, awarding grants to eligible entities for training programs covering clinical care, discrimination, and cultural competency.
The bill creates a program to expand the reproductive health care provider workforce, prioritizing the recruitment and retention of individuals with disabilities, and authorizing $15 million annually from 2027-2031.
To bolster the reproductive health care nursing workforce, the bill authorizes $15 million annually from 2027-2031 for grants supporting the recruitment, retention, and training of individuals with disabilities.
The legislation establishes a program for reproductive health education targeted towards individuals with disabilities, providing funding for accessible materials and community engagement, with $10 million authorized annually from 2027-2031.
A National Technical Assistance Center will be created to provide guidance and best practices to states and organizations on coordinating services and ensuring culturally and linguistically accessible reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities.

119th Congressin committeeS. 4540(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 7 more.

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