Trone, Cardin Lead Effort to Review Health Impacts of Federal Non-Health Policy Initiatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2022
Contact:
Sasha Galbreath, 202-860-4990 (Trone)
Sue Walitsky/Tim Zink, 202-224-4524 (Cardin)
Trone, Cardin Lead Effort to Review Health Impacts of Federal Non-Health Policy Initiatives
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman David Trone (D-MD), a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee, introduced the Assessing Health Evaluations to Advance Decision-making (AHEAD) Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to commission a study to determine the potential of using Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) within the federal legislative process.
You can read more about the legislation’s background here.
HIAs study the health outcomes of non-health initiatives – such as the expansion of a public housing program. These non-health policy initiatives, often called social determinants of health, can have a significant and/or direct influence on the health care outcomes of the surrounding community.
“When Congress passes legislation, it’s our responsibility to ensure it will benefit Americans and their quality of life – no matter their zip code,” said Congressman Trone. “Today, many Americans experience health conditions that are largely preventable, such as asthma and cancer. We must do better. The AHEAD Act will provide vital insight into how policy changes will impact the health of Americans across our country. It’s just the right thing to do.”
“Congress needs to think beyond traditional health policy silos and fully understand how other factors may affect public and personal health in our communities,” said Senator Cardin. “The AHEAD Act will broaden the scope of how we view federal legislation and allow us to be more effective stewards of taxpayer funds while reducing health disparities.”
The AHEAD Act has garnered broad support, including from the American Public Health Association, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Friends of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Alliance against Disparities in Patient Health, National Hispanic Medical Association, Population Health Alliance, National Rural Health Association, and the Maryland Hospital Association.
The bill’s text is available here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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