The Virtual-Based Opioid Treatment for Veterans Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a two-year pilot program aimed at expanding access to virtual opioid treatment for enrolled veterans who face barriers to in-person care. This initiative requires the VA to conduct outreach, build referral networks, and coordinate with other federal agencies to connect veterans with telehealth programs that combine medication and counseling in a single visit. The bill also mandates a study on treatment barriers and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress until the opioid crisis is no longer considered a public health emergency.
The Great American Healthcare Act introduces several changes to the U.S. healthcare system, primarily focusing on expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and increasing price transparency for medical services. Under the HSA provisions, individuals can contribute more money to these accounts, use funds for healthy food and fitness expenses, and roll over unused balances to family members or specific political accounts. The bill also allows employers to satisfy certain coverage mandates by contributing directly to employees' HSAs. To make healthcare costs clearer, the legislation requires hospitals, laboratories, and imaging centers to publicly post their standard charges and negotiated rates in a uniform format. Additionally, the bill mandates that health plans provide detailed itemized bills and explanations of benefits to patients within 45 days of a claim request. Finally, the act expands the ability of pharmacists and nurses to dispense certain low-risk prescription drugs without a doctor's direct supervision and repeals a specific rule regarding Federal Reserve earnings on balances.
This bill, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026, allows Medicare to pay for services provided by radiologist assistants under the supervision of a radiologist. It defines radiologist assistants as certified professionals who work strictly under a radiologist's direction and clarifies that they cannot independently interpret imaging results. The legislation authorizes Medicare to reimburse these assistants for services performed in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other specified settings, with the payment directed to the supervising radiologist. These changes take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to expand access to diagnostic imaging while maintaining existing safety standards.
The Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals in the criminal justice system by restricting financial incentives for states that use restraints on pregnant inmates. Under the bill, states receiving federal justice grants would face a 25 percent funding penalty if they fail to implement laws limiting the use of shackles on pregnant individuals, with those withheld funds redirected to compliant states. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to create and fund programs in at least six federal facilities and across various state and local prisons that provide specialized prenatal care, mental health support, and reentry assistance. These programs are designed to address specific health disparities, particularly for racial and ethnic minority groups, by offering culturally competent care, nutrition counseling, and opportunities to maintain contact with newborn children. Additionally, the act requires an independent oversight organization to monitor program implementation and mandates a Government Accountability Office report to analyze maternal and infant health data within the correctional system.
The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 aims to improve safety and professional opportunities for boxers by modifying the existing Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996. It creates a new category for "unified boxing organizations," which are private leagues or associations that manage title belts and rankings, allowing them to operate under a specific alternative compliance system. Under this system, these organizations must provide enhanced medical care, including additional ambulances and ringside physicians, and require more rigorous physical exams for older boxers. The bill also mandates minimum payments of $200 per round, limits contract lengths to six years, and establishes a comprehensive anti-doping program with random testing. Furthermore, the legislation prohibits unified boxing organizations from having financial interests in the management of the boxers they promote and requires strict rules against insider betting.
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage and oversight rules to include clinical psychologists in rural and underserved areas. Starting in 2026, clinical psychologists working in designated health professional shortage areas will receive an additional 10 percent payment for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The bill also removes certain federal restrictions that previously limited the types of care clinical psychologists could provide in outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, partial hospitalization, home health, and inpatient psychiatric settings. These changes allow psychologists to supervise or provide care directly in these facilities as long as state laws permit it, while maintaining existing requirements for consultation with physicians.
The Fit Future Act establishes the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, a group of up to 30 appointed members who serve without pay to advise the President and the Department of Health and Human Services. This council is tasked with developing strategies to revive the Presidential Fitness Test, promoting school-based physical education programs, and setting new fitness goals for American youth. Additionally, the council will recommend campaigns to address childhood obesity and national security concerns related to sedentary lifestyles, while receiving administrative support and funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 directs the Federal Communications Commission to study how to require callers to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to send their precise location information to emergency responders. This requirement would primarily affect telecommunications companies, 911 service providers, and crisis centers that currently handle calls from users who may not be able to verbally state their address. The bill also asks the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on the legal, technical, and financial challenges of implementing such a system, including considerations for privacy and accessibility for users with hearing loss. By mandating these studies, the legislation aims to gather necessary data before deciding on a policy to ensure callers can be routed to local help more effectively.
The Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act establishes a national technical assistance center and provides $1 billion in grants to help recruit, train, and retain workers who assist older adults and people with disabilities. These funds will support projects run by states, community colleges, and other organizations to create career pathways, offer apprenticeships, and provide educational resources for both direct care professionals and family caregivers. A key requirement is that at least 30% of the funded projects must focus on advancing the careers of direct care workers through professional development and clear career ladders. The bill also mandates that grant recipients include people with disabilities, older individuals, and caregivers in planning and advisory roles to ensure programs meet community needs. Additionally, the legislation allocates $2 million annually for the technical assistance center to develop training curricula and address data gaps in the workforce.
The Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act prohibits states and their officials from restricting or penalizing health care providers who offer reproductive health services that are legal in the state where they are performed. This includes banning laws that stop doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or their staff from providing abortion, contraception, or other reproductive care, as well as preventing the denial of professional liability insurance based on these services. The bill establishes a private right of action allowing providers to sue in federal court to challenge such restrictions and mandates that the federal government cannot use funds to support legal cases against providers acting within state law. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $80 million in grants to support legal defense funds for providers facing lawsuits and to improve physical and cybersecurity measures at health care facilities.
