Sponsors (30)
The bill expands federally funded preventive services and follow-up for underserved women—likely improving early detection and reducing future costs—while imposing a $250 million federal cost, administrative burdens on providers, and potential variability in who gets services depending on eligibility rules.
Low-income women will gain access to additional preventive services (e.g., blood pressure and cholesterol screening, health education), increasing early detection and prevention of disease.
Women with abnormal screening results are more likely to receive timely medical care because the bill strengthens referral and follow-up requirements.
The federal appropriation of $250 million over five years funds expansion of preventive services for underserved populations, which can lower future healthcare costs by preventing or treating conditions earlier.
Access to services depends on Secretary-specified eligibility rules and designee approvals, creating the risk that who receives services will vary across states and leave some eligible people without access.
Taxpayers will bear the $250 million appropriation cost over five years, which could pressure other federal priorities or require trade-offs in budgeting.
Grant recipients (state programs and health systems) may face increased administrative and reporting burdens to meet referral, follow-up, and evaluation requirements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes CDC supplemental grants to expand breast and cervical screening programs to provide heart-health screenings, education, referrals, and evaluation, funded at $250M for FY2027–2031.
Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the WISEWOMAN program.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Joyce Beatty · Last progress February 9, 2026
Authorizes the CDC to award supplemental grants to organizations that already receive federal funds for breast and cervical cancer screening so they can also provide preventive heart-health services for low-income women. It allows screening programs and designated partners to offer blood pressure and cholesterol checks, health education, referrals and follow-up, and program evaluation, and it authorizes $250 million in funding for FY2027–2031 to carry out these activities. The change expands the scope of existing women’s health screening programs to include cardiovascular prevention and surveillance for eligible low-income women, with grant-based funding and Secretary-defined eligibility and designee rules.