Bill > HR3866

This bill addresses the rising rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis in the United States by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue comprehensive guidance within 12 months to state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies, as well as Indian health programs. The guidance will focus on best practices to improve syphilis screening, testing, and treatment for pregnant women and babies, including expanding screening access, educating medical professionals and patients, integrating telehealth services, increasing testing in the third trimester and at delivery, and improving overall treatment approaches. The bill highlights the significant public health concern, noting that in 2023, there were 209,253 syphilis cases, an 80% increase since 2018, with 3,882 cases of congenital syphilis resulting in 252 stillbirths and 27 infant deaths. It emphasizes that timely testing and treatment during pregnancy could potentially prevent almost 90% of congenital syphilis cases, which can cause serious health issues including miscarriage, infant death, and lifelong medical complications. The Secretary is also required to submit a report to Congress within two years analyzing the implementation of these best practices, making the findings publicly available to promote transparency and further action.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3866/all-info