This bill aims to strengthen the community health workforce by providing financial incentives and new training opportunities for health centers serving underserved areas. It establishes a priority system for assigning federal health professionals to rural clinics and creates a grant program that helps health centers repay student loans for staff who commit to working there. The legislation also expands funding for partnerships between health centers and colleges to train new workers, specifically targeting behavioral health specialists, and allows these centers to participate in medical residency programs. Additionally, the bill broadens Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include services provided by behavioral health consultants and case managers at these facilities.
This joint resolution seeks to reject a specific federal rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the WISeR Model, which was designed to reduce wasteful spending by requiring prior authorization for select Medicare services. If passed, the measure would legally nullify the rule, preventing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from enforcing the new prior authorization requirements on healthcare providers. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries and medical facilities that would otherwise have to comply with these administrative changes. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, the legislation aims to stop the implementation of the policy without altering the underlying statute governing Medicare.
This bill, titled the Medicaid Outreach and Assistance for Communities Act of 2026, aims to help states assist eligible individuals in enrolling in and keeping Medicaid coverage. It responds to new federal requirements, such as work reporting rules and more frequent eligibility checks, which can make navigating the system difficult for many people. The legislation directs the federal government to pay states an amount equal to 100 percent of their costs for outreach and enrollment activities. By covering these expenses, the bill intends to support state workers and navigators who help people understand and meet these new administrative steps.
This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants for creating Community Multi-Share Coverage Programs designed to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to employees with limited income. These programs would operate through partnerships between hospitals, local employers, and community organizations to offer coverage that includes essential medical services without deductibles and with low co-payments. Eligible individuals are those who earn between Medicaid limits and 400% of the federal poverty line, work for small employers, and currently lack affordable coverage options. The funding structure requires shared financial contributions from the public sector, local healthcare providers, employers, and enrollees to ensure long-term sustainability. Additionally, the bill mandates that programs evaluate their impact on improving participants' health, employment status, and economic self-sufficiency over a four-year grant period.
The Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2026 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on Medicaid and CHIP coverage for pelvic health services, such as pelvic floor exams and physical therapy, during the postpartum period. This guidance will outline best practices for payment models, financing options, and technical assistance for state agencies to improve access to these care services. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study gaps in coverage for these services and defines the postpartum period as lasting at least six months or as long as lactation continues. Additionally, the Act authorizes $2 million annually from 2027 to 2031 to fund a national education campaign that trains health professionals and informs postpartum women about the importance and availability of pelvic health care.
The Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act introduces a 5% annual wealth tax on individuals and trusts with net assets exceeding $1 billion, which is adjusted for inflation after 2026. The bill also expands Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision services, establishes a $60,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers, and creates a birth-through-five child care entitlement program for working families. Additional provisions include increased eligibility for health insurance premium tax credits, expanded home and community-based services under Medicaid, and funding for various education and healthcare initiatives.
The ABLE Tomorrow Act expands and strengthens the ABLE program, which allows people with disabilities to save money in tax-advantaged accounts without risking their eligibility for essential government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Key changes include removing limits on transferring funds from 529 college savings plans into ABLE accounts and creating exceptions to annual contribution caps for specific lump-sum payments. The bill also permits employers to contribute directly to an employee's ABLE account as part of a retirement plan and requires various federal agencies to inform beneficiaries about these savings opportunities. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $50 million in grants over five years to help states and tribes promote ABLE accounts and increase participation among eligible individuals.
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People with Disabilities
This bill strengthens the Vaccines for Children Program and Medicaid immunization coverage to improve vaccine access for children. It expands eligibility to include children enrolled in state child health plans and clarifies that providers can charge fees for vaccine administration and counseling services up to Medicare rates. The legislation also increases federal funding for Medicaid by 1% per quarter starting in 2027, contingent on states providing culturally competent vaccination outreach, and requires annual public reports on vaccination rates by demographic factors.
Ensuring Seniors' Access to Quality Care Act This bill repeals certain restrictions under Medicare and Medicaid that prohibit the approval of nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs in skilled nursing facilities that have been subject to specified regulatory actions (e.g., civil penalties) for substandard quality of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must still disapprove such programs for up to two years; however, the CMS must rescind the disapproval upon completion of corrective action and may require additional oversight of the program for purposes of rescission. The bill also allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information for affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.
The IMPACT to Save Moms Act authorizes a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031 to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative requires the federal government to work with various stakeholders, including hospitals, providers, and community organizations, to design systems that improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals, with a specific focus on groups facing higher risks of poor maternal health. The proposed models must include methods to adjust payments based on pregnancy risk, consider non-hospital birth settings, and ensure care teams include diverse professionals trained to address implicit bias. Additionally, the bill mandates that the project be evaluated using data on health outcomes and costs, with a final report submitted to Congress to determine if the program should be expanded nationally.
