Sponsors (28)
The bill creates a timebound HHS study that could produce more equitable, evidence-based recommendations to improve pain management for women and other patients, but it delays near-term fixes, may incur additional costs, and has no guarantee the recommendations will be implemented.
Women undergoing gynecologic procedures and other patients with chronic conditions could gain improved access to pain relief if the HHS study produces recommendations that lead to administrative or legislative changes.
Patients, providers, and equity experts will be consulted, which can surface experiences of marginalized communities and support more equitable pain-management policies.
HHS is given a 24-month deadline to deliver findings and actionable recommendations to congressional health committees, creating a defined timeline and accountability for producing results.
Patients (especially women undergoing gynecologic procedures) may face delayed improvements to pain management because the study could take up to 24 months before producing recommendations.
Even after the study, HHS findings and recommendations may not be adopted, so recommended administrative or legislative actions might not materialize and immediate impacts on access could be limited.
If the study requires new research or additional resources, it could increase HHS costs or divert agency staff from other programs, imposing costs on taxpayers and stretching federal employees.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires HHS to study barriers to offering and accessing pain management during gynecologic procedures and report findings and recommendations within 24 months.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a comprehensive study of barriers that keep health care providers from offering, and patients from accessing, pain management methods during gynecologic procedures. The study must include a literature review, new research if needed, consultation with listed stakeholder groups, and a report with findings and recommendations to two congressional committees within 24 months of enactment. The bill defines key terms but does not appropriate funds or impose clinical mandates.
Introduced March 30, 2026 by Yassamin Ansari · Last progress March 30, 2026