Bill > HR5925

This bill establishes an Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), creating a new position designed to support and protect access to reproductive healthcare. The Ombuds must have expertise in sexual and reproductive health and a demonstrated commitment to serving diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and those with low socioeconomic status. The Ombuds will report directly to the HHS Secretary and will have several key functions, including educating the public about reproductive healthcare services, analyzing data on consumer access to these services, gathering information about health plan benefits, disseminating information about healthcare providers and abortion funds, addressing reproductive health misinformation, and coordinating with other federal agencies to protect consumer interests. The Ombuds will be organizationally independent, sufficiently staffed, and required to submit an annual report to Congress evaluating its efforts. Importantly, the bill explicitly prohibits the collection of individually identifiable patient information, ensuring patient privacy. The legislation defines "specified health care services" broadly to include medical, surgical, counseling, and referral services related to reproductive and sexual health, with a particular focus on pregnancy and pregnancy termination services.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5925/all-info