The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2026 requires group health plans and insurance coverage to treat the cost-sharing for oral cancer medications no less favorably than that for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This rule applies to FDA-approved oral cancer treatments that a treating physician deems medically necessary and clinically appropriate, ensuring that deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance rates are not higher for oral options. The legislation also prohibits plans from making changes that would increase out-of-pocket costs or impose stricter limitations on oral cancer drugs compared to injected ones, while still allowing for standard utilization controls like prior authorization. Additionally, the bill mandates a Government Accountability Office study within two years to assess the impact of these changes on patient costs and access.
The Duster Inhalation Prevention Act directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify specific aerosol duster propellants as hazardous substances. Under this law, aerosol products containing more than 18 mg of these substances would be banned, and manufacturers would be prohibited from stockpiling them ahead of the ban. The bill also allows the Commission to add other harmful propellants to the list if they are used for recreational inhalation. These measures aim to reduce the availability of products that can be misused for intoxication while excluding FDA-regulated drugs from the restrictions.
The Luxury JET Act prohibits the use of a luxury aircraft donated by the Government of Qatar for the personal benefit of any President, their family members, or associates, even after their term ends. It also mandates that the Government Accountability Office conduct a detailed review of the aircraft donation to analyze potential conflicts of interest, the full cost to taxpayers, and the legality of accepting the gift under the Foreign Emoluments Clause. The report from this review must be submitted to congressional defense committees within 90 days and should include recommendations to improve laws regarding foreign gifts and prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds.
The Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Prevention Act establishes new federal regulations to curb the misuse of nitrous oxide while allowing its continued use for legitimate medical, industrial, and automotive purposes. Key provisions include banning flavored products and limiting food-use canisters to 8 grams, alongside strict rules that prohibit packaging with bright colors or cartoon characters and require prominent warning labels on every cartridge. The bill also imposes age restrictions by setting a minimum purchase age of 21, mandates that retailers verify identification and limit sales hours, and restricts wholesalers from selling directly to individual consumers. To support harm reduction efforts, the legislation authorizes funding for grants aimed at education, prevention programs, and training for law enforcement and medical professionals. Non-compliance with these new requirements can result in civil monetary penalties for manufacturers and distributors, or escalating fines and potential sales bans for retailers.
The Mamas First Act expands Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, labor, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. To qualify for this coverage, these professionals must meet specific certification, training, or recognition standards, such as doulas having continuing education and references from former clients or healthcare providers. The bill also prohibits Medicaid programs from charging copayments or deductibles for these essential services. These changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing access to supportive care.
The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 requires nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities to allow two chosen family members or friends to visit residents during times when regular visitation is suspended. These essential caregivers must agree to follow the facility's existing safety and infection control rules, which are no more restrictive than those applied to staff. While facilities can limit access for the first seven days of a suspension or deny entry if a caregiver shows symptoms of a serious infectious disease, they cannot block visits for end-of-life care. Additionally, the bill mandates that complaints about denied access to essential caregivers be investigated and resolved within three days.
This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act establishes new federal standards to ensure that workers at small, medium, and large hub airports receive a living wage and adequate health benefits. It defines "covered service workers" to include employees in roles such as baggage handling, passenger assistance, security, ticketing, and concession services, regardless of whether they are directly hired by the airport or work for a contractor. Under the bill, employers must pay these workers at least the higher of the federal Service Contract Act wage rates or applicable state and local minimum wages, and they must provide similar fringe benefits. To enforce these rules, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Transportation will have the authority to investigate violations, issue penalties, and require employers to submit monthly compliance certifications. Additionally, the law allows private individuals to file lawsuits against non-compliant employers and mandates annual reports to Congress on the implementation of these labor standards.
The Living Wage For All Act aims to raise the federal minimum wage to a living standard by establishing a tiered increase schedule that targets $25 per hour over five years for large corporations and twelve years for smaller employers. The bill defines large employers as those with at least $1 billion in annual revenue or 500 employees, requiring them to lead the transition while providing smaller businesses more time to adjust. It also phases out the separate, lower minimum wage for tipped employees and youth workers, eventually aligning all workers under the same rate, and gradually eliminates special minimum wage certificates for individuals with disabilities. Once the general minimum wage reaches $25 per hour, the law mandates that future adjustments be tied annually to the national median hourly wage to ensure the standard keeps pace with economic growth.
The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2026 amends federal bankruptcy laws to create a new category called "medically distressed debtor" for individuals whose debt is primarily caused by medical issues, such as illness, injury, or a loss of income due to caring for a sick family member. Under this bill, people in this category would receive special protections, including an additional $250,000 exemption for their primary home or burial plots and a waiver of certain financial tests required to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. To qualify, a debtor must show that unpaid medical expenses exceeded a specific threshold relative to their income or that their financial situation was directly impacted by a health crisis or national emergency. The legislation also requires debtors to submit a sworn statement detailing their medical costs and ensures that bankruptcy records for these individuals are excluded from their consumer credit reports. These changes apply to bankruptcy cases filed after the law is enacted.
The Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 changes how Medicare calculates payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers starting in 2027. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use the same annual price increase factors applied to other outpatient services, rather than a separate calculation. Additionally, the bill removes a specific rule that previously limited these payment updates to keep total spending flat, allowing for more consistent price adjustments. These changes directly affect hospitals and clinics that perform surgeries on an outpatient basis and the patients who receive those services under Medicare.
The High Court Gift Ban Act prohibits federal judicial officers from accepting gifts from sources likely to appear before them, unless the gift is under $50, the total annual value from that source remains $100 or less, or it falls under specific exceptions like gifts from relatives or public events. The law defines a "gift" broadly to include items, services, and reimbursements, while allowing exceptions for personal hospitality within IRS limits and certain professional benefits available to the general public. Enforcement mechanisms include referrals to the Attorney General for violations, which can result in civil or criminal penalties similar to those for other federal ethics breaches. The bill requires the Supreme Court and the Judicial Conference to create implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment to ensure compliance.
