Guides states to prevent congenital syphilis by improving screening and treatment for pregnant women and babies.
This bill would guide state health programs and tribal health services to better prevent congenital syphilis, a serious illness affecting babies. It would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue best practices for screening, education, and treatment. These practices would apply under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The goal is to reduce the number of stillbirths and infant deaths caused by this preventable disease.
Today, syphilis cases are at their highest since 1950. In 2023, there were over 3,882 cases of congenital syphilis, causing 252 stillbirths and 27 infant deaths. Syphilis screening rules for pregnant women vary widely by state, and many states do not require testing late in pregnancy. If this bill becomes law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would issue national guidance within 12 months. This guidance would go to state Medicaid and CHIP programs, and Indian health programs. This guidance would aim to improve syphilis screening for pregnant women and babies. It would also seek to increase testing in the third trimester and at delivery, and enhance education and treatment. This could potentially prevent almost 90 percent of congenital syphilis cases.
HR 3866 · 119th Congress · June 10, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10
Sign in to see your representatives' phone numbers