On the recordDecember 19, 2022
I rise to introduce the Health Enterprise Zones Act of 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the severity of inequities in the U.S. healthcare system. Latinos and African Americans experienced the highest death and infection rates during the pandemic. But inequitable access to quality, affordable healthcare is not unique to the past 18 months. Centuries of structural and systemic racism continue to result in poorer health outcomes in communities of color. Historically, these communities are underserved by health professionals, which both causes and further exacerbates health disparities. That is why I am proud to introduce The Health Enterprise Zones Act of 2022, which uses a market-based approach to incentivize increased health provider participation in structurally disadvantaged areas. This bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to designate health enterprise zones based on measurable and documented health disparities in areas with poor health outcomes. These zones would be eligible Federal grants for projects to reduce health disparities and provide healthcare providers employee tax credits, a 10 percent Medicare reimbursement bonus, and student loan repayment. I want to thank Representative Anthony Brown for introducing the House companion, and I look forward to working on this bill into the next Congress. I hope our colleagues will join us in taking this key step to achieving health equity. ____________________
