Healthcare

Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act This bill establishes regional centers of excellence, postgraduate fellowships, and training for health professionals relating to the diagnosis and treatment of rare kidney disease. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct various studies on rare kidney disease. Specifically, it authorizes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to award funding to public and private nonprofit entities for establishing regional centers of excellence that will increase public awareness, conduct research, and develop resources for diagnosing and treating rare kidney diseases. A center may receive such funding for up to five years, unless extended by the institute.  The bill also requires health professions schools receiving a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Centers of Excellence program to award fellowships for training on preventing, diagnosing, and treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately impacted populations. Also, the bill expands the priorities of HRSA’s Primary Care Training and Enhancement program to include training for health care workers to care for individuals with kidney disease. Additionally, HHS must conduct several studies and report to Congress on topics such as treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately affected populations, eliminating the need for dialysis or kidney transplants, and increasing public awareness of rare kidney disease.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

HR 2715, the *Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act*, expands the authority to destroy imported goods that pose public health risks. It amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to order the destruction of any refused import (not just drugs or devices) if it presents a significant health concern. The bill also prohibits the unauthorized movement, sale, or export of such refused goods. These changes apply to importers of hazardous refused articles 180 days after enactment, with the FDA required to finalize implementing regulations within 90 days.

The WINGS Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a long-term study on the brain and mental health impacts of military aviation, specifically focusing on high-performance flight and G-force exposure. It requires examining links between flight hours, G-forces, and conditions like traumatic brain injury, depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases among military aviators. The bill mandates creating a centralized, anonymized health registry for participating aviators to track flight exposure and health outcomes over time. This study must produce interim and final reports to Congress within one and three years of enactment, directly affecting current and former military pilots and aircrew who operated aircraft like fighter jets, trainers, or tiltrotors.

The Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act of 2025 prohibits the implementation of a 2024 rule that would have streamlined Medicaid application and enrollment processes. It requires states to verify U.S. citizenship or immigration status before enrolling individuals in Medicaid and mandates quarterly verification of income-based eligibility for those relying on income calculations. The bill also blocks federal funding for Medicaid coverage for certain non-citizens, including parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, asylum seekers, and individuals granted withholding of removal. These provisions directly affect non-citizen Medicaid applicants and require states to adjust enrollment and verification procedures.

This bill amends the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program to enhance mental health support during military-to-civilian transitions. It requires TAP to provide specific information on suicide risk factors (including depression, homelessness, and relationship strain), treatment options for conditions like PTSD and substance abuse, and the impact of losing social support systems. The Solid Start Program must now assist veterans in enrolling in VA healthcare and educate them about available mental health resources. The Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs must jointly report to Congress within one year on the materials developed under these changes.

This bill automatically qualifies certain Medicaid beneficiaries for Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidies when they turn 65. Specifically, it treats individuals enrolled in Medicaid under specific state plan provisions (as defined in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)) with income below 200% of the poverty line as "subsidy eligible" for Part D, without requiring additional application. The provision applies to those who were enrolled in Medicaid the day before turning 65, and the subsidy period is limited as determined by the Secretary. It takes effect for Medicare plan years beginning January 1, 2027. The bill does not change drug pricing but streamlines access to existing subsidy programs for this group.

HR 2351 requires the Coast Guard Commandant to update policies ensuring naloxone (a medication for opioid overdoses) is available for Coast Guard personnel. It mandates naloxone access at all Coast Guard installations and in all operational settings, including vessels and facilities. The bill also requires a two-year report to Congress detailing implementation progress, Coast Guard substance abuse trends (including fentanyl), and naloxone usage data. All provisions must comply with federal privacy laws like the Privacy Act.

This bill requires the VA to create and maintain a standardized list (the "Formulary") of covered prosthetic and rehabilitative items and services for veterans. It mandates that the VA develop this list using evidence-based research, ensure all listed items are available at every VA facility nationwide, and regularly update and publish the Formulary online. Veterans will receive clear communication about covered items and how to appeal denied requests, while VA clinicians can still prescribe non-Formulary items when medically necessary, with oversight to evaluate if those items should be added to the Formulary. The policy directly affects veterans receiving prosthetic care through the VA system.