Healthcare

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 16, 2026

S 5030: TRUTH in Coverage Act of 2026

The TRUTH in Coverage Act of 2026 requires group health plans and health insurance issuers that cover gender-affirming procedures to also cover medical services aimed at treating the physical and psychological harms caused by those procedures. This mandate applies regardless of whether the original procedure was covered under the plan and ensures that follow-up care has the same cost-sharing rules and limitations as other standard medical benefits. The bill defines "sex-rejecting procedures" broadly to include hormone therapy, surgeries, and puberty blockers, while explicitly excluding treatments for intersex conditions, precocious puberty, and emergency care. Coverage for these restorative services would become effective for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill mandates coverage for services treating harms from gender-affirming care, restricting access to those procedures and limiting patient autonomy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 4997: Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Prevention Act

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.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to nitrous oxide for legitimate medical and industrial purposes by banning flavored products and imposing strict packaging rules.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9829: ORTHO Act

The ORTHO Act directs the Federal Trade Commission to create new rules requiring dentists to perform an in-person examination before providing most dental services or medical devices through teledentistry. This requirement includes exceptions for emergency care, approved public health programs, and specific orthodontic diagnoses that must still be confirmed by an in-person visit and review of X-rays before a patient begins using an appliance. Violations of these rules would be treated as unfair or deceptive practices, allowing both the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce the law through civil penalties and potential damages. The bill also clarifies that states retain the ability to adopt additional regulations that are consistent with these federal standards.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to teledentistry by mandating in-person exams, limiting service availability.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts teledentistry technology by mandating in-person exams, limiting digital service access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2026

HR 9798: Employer Health Plan Flexibility Act

The Employer Health Plan Flexibility Act would allow certain employer-sponsored group health plans to opt out of the Affordable Care Act's requirement to cover specific Essential Health Benefits. This exemption applies to plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and would take effect for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2028. While exempt from those specific coverage mandates, the bill explicitly states that employers must still comply with other federal rules, including those regarding mental health parity, nondiscrimination, and preventive services. To ensure transparency, employers claiming this exemption must annually inform their employees about the benefits included in their plan and identify any Essential Health Benefits that are not covered.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill allows employers to opt out of ACA Essential Health Benefits, restricting coverage mandates and limiting patient access to required health services.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill allows employers to opt out of ACA Essential Health Benefits, reducing mandated worker health coverage protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jul 14, 2026

HR 9667: Securing Healthcare and Income Entitlements for Lawfully Domiciled Citizens (SHIELD Citizens) Act

The SHIELD Citizens Act aims to restrict access to federal welfare programs, such as food assistance, Medicaid, and housing aid, exclusively to United States citizens. By amending existing laws, the bill removes eligibility for noncitizens, including lawfully domiciled residents, while preserving access to emergency medical care, disaster relief, and services like soup kitchens. The legislation includes a transition period allowing current recipients to keep their benefits for up to 180 days after the law takes effect, which is set to begin 180 days after enactment. This change directly impacts noncitizen families who currently rely on these safety net programs, narrowing the pool of eligible individuals to citizens only.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to Medicaid and other federal health benefits for noncitizens, limiting coverage.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill restricts access to federal housing aid for noncitizens, limiting availability of housing assistance.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts noncitizen access to federal welfare programs, limiting immigrant services and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Jul 13, 2026

HR 9656: Illegal Alien Patient Reporting Act

This bill requires hospitals that receive federal health care funding to ask patients about their immigration status during admission and report the results to government agencies. Under the law, hospitals must include a specific statement on intake forms assuring patients that their answers will not affect their medical care or lead to a law enforcement report unless the patient is suspected of certain crimes. Hospitals must also submit quarterly reports detailing how many patients are citizens, lawful residents, or undocumented, along with the number of individuals who refused to answer or failed to provide proof of their legal status. The legislation prohibits hospitals from sharing personal identifying information with the government while allowing them to exclude non-compliant facilities from federal programs. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual report to Congress analyzing the costs of uncompensated care for undocumented patients and its impact on hospital services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by mandating immigration status reporting in hospitals, increasing surveillance and restricting privacy rights for patients.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access by requiring immigration status reporting, creating barriers to care and limiting patient rights.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates hospitals report immigration status, increasing enforcement cooperation and restricting access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Hospitals

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2026

HR 9421: Ban Abortion by Mail Act

This bill, titled the Ban Abortion by Mail Act, aims to restrict how abortion medications like mifepristone are prescribed by requiring an in-person visit between the patient and the doctor. It directly affects health care providers who are currently certified by the FDA to dispense these drugs, threatening their certification status if they prescribe them without a physical examination or to patients living in states where the provider lacks a medical license. The legislation mandates that the FDA report annually to Congress on any providers who lose this certification due to violations or unsafe prescribing practices. By enforcing these specific conditions, the bill seeks to ensure that all prescriptions for abortion drugs are administered under strict supervision and within the legal boundaries of the patient's state.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to abortion medications by mandating in-person visits and threatening provider certifications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4880: Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026, prohibits physicians from performing abortions that involve dismembering an unborn child piece by piece or crushing it with instruments, with the specific intent of causing the child's death. The law defines an "unborn child" as a human organism from fertilization until birth and allows for exceptions only when the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother due to a physical disorder, illness, or injury. While it bans this specific method, the bill explicitly states that other abortion methods remain legal for reasons such as rape or incest, and it removes the previous federal ban on partial-birth abortions from the legal code. Violators face criminal penalties including fines and up to two years in prison, while women undergoing these procedures are immune from prosecution. Additionally, the bill creates a civil remedy allowing women or parents of minors to sue physicians for money damages, psychological injury, and punitive damages if the ban is violated.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to specific abortion procedures, limiting patient care options and reducing reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2026

HRES 1382: Celebrating the historic anniversary of the June 24, 2022, decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

This resolution commemorates the fourth anniversary of the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which removed the federal constitutional right to abortion. The text expresses support for state authority to regulate abortion and acknowledges the work of pregnancy centers that provide care to women and families. It also recognizes the belief that unborn life possesses inherent rights and calls for the protection of that life. As a symbolic measure, the bill does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally celebrate the anniversary and state the House's position on the issue.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill commemorates a decision removing federal abortion rights and calls for protecting unborn life, restricting access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 16, 2026

SJRES 198: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".

This joint resolution seeks to officially disapprove a specific rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the implementation of prior authorization for certain Medicare services. The proposed action would prevent the rule, known as the WISeR Model, from taking effect, thereby stopping the new requirements from being enforced. If passed, the resolution would nullify the regulation and maintain the status quo for the affected healthcare services.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill blocks a rule intended to reduce wasteful services, thereby restricting efforts to limit unnecessary care and potentially increasing costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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