The DME Scammer Prevention Act of 2026 aims to reduce fraud in Medicare by requiring all providers to submit electronic claims for specific medical equipment and supplies starting in 2027. A key provision mandates that claims for these items be submitted within 90 days of service, with certain exceptions for items needing prior authorization or monthly rental payments. To ensure the system works effectively, the bill requires the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress by 2030 evaluating how the new screening technology identifies errors, waste, or potential abuse. These changes directly affect Medicare suppliers and administrative contractors by altering how and when they must file claims for covered durable medical equipment.
This bill, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026, aims to create more predictable payment adjustments for physicians and other healthcare providers under the Medicare program. It directly affects medical practices and providers who receive reimbursement for services through the physician fee schedule. The legislation increases a threshold for certain budget neutrality calculations from $20 million to $54.3 million in 2027, with automatic increases every five years thereafter. It also requires the government to correct payment estimates when actual service usage differs significantly from projections, mandates regular updates to cost calculations for practice expenses, and limits how much Medicare payment rates can change from year to year to a maximum of 2.5 percent.
This bill simplifies filing requirements for employer-sponsored retirement plans. It extends the deadline for submitting Form 5500 (the annual report for retirement plans) from 210 days or 6 months after the plan year end to 15 days after the end of the 9th calendar month following the plan year. It also allows electronic signatures for these filings and requires agencies to update regulations to reflect these changes. The bill directly affects employers and plan administrators who manage retirement plans under federal law, reducing administrative burdens and modernizing the filing process.
This bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.
The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025 establishes a competitive federal grant program to fund projects improving recycling access in underserved communities. It authorizes $30 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, or public-private partnerships to build infrastructure like transfer stations, expand curbside collection, or reduce transport costs. Grants must be $500,000-$15 million, with 70% reserved for projects in communities lacking a materials recovery facility within 75 miles. The program requires grantees to report on implementation and outcomes, excluding funding for recycling education.
This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.
The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.
The Chinese CBDC Prohibition Act of 2026 bans money services businesses in the United States from conducting any transactions involving the central bank digital currency issued by the People's Republic of China. This law directly affects financial institutions, such as banks and money transfer operators, by prohibiting them from processing payments, deposits, or exchanges related to this specific digital currency. The prohibition applies to both direct and indirect transactions, ensuring that no U.S. entity can facilitate the use of the Chinese digital currency within the regulated money services sector. By adding a new section to the existing U.S. Code, the bill creates a clear legal barrier to prevent the integration of this foreign digital currency into the American financial system.
The Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026 directs U.S. national security agencies to evaluate whether specific communications equipment and services from seven Chinese companies pose a risk to national security. If these agencies fail to make a determination within a year or find the technology risky, the Federal Communications Commission must add the equipment to a banned list that prevents U.S. telecom providers from using it. The law also requires the Secretary of Defense to decide if these same entities should be classified as Chinese military companies operating in the United States. This process directly affects telecommunications companies and federal agencies responsible for maintaining secure communication networks.
The CCP Sanctions Shot Clock Act requires the U.S. Treasury Department to update a specific list of Chinese military-industrial companies within one year of a presidential report. This provision directly affects foreign entities identified in that report by mandating their inclusion on the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List if they have not already been added. Once updated, the Treasury must publish the revised list in the Federal Register to ensure transparency. Essentially, the bill sets a strict deadline for finalizing sanctions-related additions to this watchlist.
The REPORTS Act requires federal agencies to analyze how new major rules affect people living in poverty and issues of racial inequity before publishing them. Additionally, it mandates the Government Accountability Office to produce annual reports examining the economic impacts of specific government programs on these same groups. The legislation allows these analyses to optionally include an assessment of the racial wealth gap, with definitions for key terms set by the Office of Management and Budget or the Comptroller General.
The Our Doctors First Act of 2026 prohibits Medicare from providing federal funding for the graduate medical education of doctors who are not U.S. citizens or nationals. This change applies to hospitals and non-hospital training providers, requiring them to stop counting non-citizen residents and interns toward their Medicare payments starting one year after the law is enacted. To enforce this rule, the bill imposes escalating financial penalties on facilities that knowingly count ineligible trainees, ranging from a percentage of the payment amount for a first offense to a five-year ban on receiving Medicare education funds for repeated violations.
