Bill · H.R. 9946· House(119-HR-9946)
Equity in STI Testing Act
- Introduced
- 7/23/2026
- Last activity
- 7/30/2026 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Sponsored by
- Nikema Williams
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Equity in STI Testing Act. It requires various government health programs to cover specific sexually transmitted infection tests without charging any out-of-pocket costs to the patient. The covered tests include screening for HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and chlamydia. The programs affected include Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), TRICARE, veterans' healthcare, and services for Indians receiving care through the Indian Health Service. Most of these coverage and cost-sharing changes are set to take effect within one year or by the following January.
Yes· 3 of 26
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+9
Explicitly removes cost-sharing for Indians receiving services through IHS or Urban Indian Organizations.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8
Eliminates cost-sharing for STI testing in Medicaid and CHIP.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
Specifically eliminates copayments for STI testing within the VA system.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-2
Limits state autonomy over Medicaid/CHIP coverage options for these specific screenings.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Medicare Advantage Coverage: Under Section 2(a), the bill adds screening testing for HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and chlamydia as preventive services under Medicare Advantage without cost-sharing. This helps older adults and individuals with disabilities get these screenings without having to pay out of pocket.
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Medicaid Benefits: Under Section 2(b), Medicaid programs are required to cover these specific STI screening tests and eliminate cost-sharing like copayments for enrollees. This ensures low-income individuals can access necessary health screenings without financial burdens.
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Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Under Section 2(c), targeted low-income children in CHIP are guaranteed coverage for these STI screening tests without any cost-sharing requirements. This protects families from out-of-pocket expenses for youth healthcare.
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TRICARE for Military Members: Under Section 2(d), members and former members of the uniformed services enrolled in TRICARE receive these STI screening tests with all cost-sharing prohibited. This supports military personnel and their families in maintaining their health at no extra cost.
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Veterans' Healthcare: Under Section 2(e), enrolled veterans can receive these STI screening tests at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities without any copayments or charges. This honors veterans by making specific preventive healthcare completely free.
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Indian Health Service Care: Under Section 2(f), Indians receiving health services through the Indian Health Service or Urban Indian Organizations receive coverage for these STI screening tests with zero cost-sharing requirements. This ensures Native individuals have barrier-free access to important health testing.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- State Legislative Delays: Under Section 2(b)(4)(B) and Section 2(c)(3)(B), if a State needs to pass new state legislation to update its Medicaid or CHIP plans to comply with these rules, the state is given extra time before it must comply. During this waiting period, residents in those states might not receive the required cost-free testing immediately.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+9Good For Low Income Households+8Good For Veterans+8Good For Children+7Good For L G B T Q Community+7Good For Young Adults+7Good For Women+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Asian Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Men+5Good For Middle Aged+5Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5Good For Students+5Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For White Americans+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+8Improves Veterans Healthcare+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5Increases Medicare Funding+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves L G B T Q Rights+3Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2Increase States Rights-2
- 7/30/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 7/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Ritchie TorresDemocrat · New York
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida