HB7417, titled the Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026, would reauthorize and expand the WISEWOMAN program under the Public Health Service Act. The bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC, to award supplemental grants to existing WISEWOMAN recipients to provide additional preventive health services for women, including blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, health education, referrals for medical treatment, and follow-up services. It also requires evaluation of these activities through surveillance or program-monitoring efforts.
The bill broadens eligibility beyond women already served under the breast and cervical cancer screening program to include other low-income women who meet criteria set by the Secretary. It also permits services to be delivered by the existing screening entities or other approved providers designated by grant recipients and approved by the Secretary. The measure authorizes $250 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Section 1509 of the Public Health Service Act and extend federal authority to fund supplemental preventive health services for low-income women through CDC-administered grants. It would expand the scope of WISEWOMAN by adding cardiovascular risk screening and related care coordination to the existing breast and cervical cancer screening framework, and it would authorize new federal spending for the program over a five-year period.
Sentiment
The available information suggests broad bipartisan support for the bill’s public health goals. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of House members and referred to committee without any recorded opposition, vote, or hearing transcript indicating controversy. The overall tone around the measure appears favorable, reflecting support for women’s preventive health and heart disease screening.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided record, as there are no committee transcripts or votes. Potential areas of debate, if the bill advances, could include the size of the $250 million authorization, whether the program should be expanded beyond existing WISEWOMAN participants, and how much discretion the Secretary should have in setting eligibility criteria and approving providers.