Healthcare (Public Health) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3431: Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act of 2025

This bill establishes a federal working group under the Department of Health and Human Services to standardize how loneliness (a subjective feeling) and isolation (an objective lack of social contact) are measured across government and healthcare. The Working Group, composed of HHS agencies and state representatives from areas with high/low mental health practitioner shortages, will develop consistent metrics and definitions for research, public health initiatives, and healthcare tools. It requires the group to submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment, detailing recommendations for unified measurement standards. The effort is limited to improving data collection methods and expires by December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2621: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for State-based maternal mortality review committees, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate best practices on maternal mortality prevention to hospitals, State-based professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives, and for other purposes.

This bill reauthorizes funding for state-level maternal mortality review committees, which analyze pregnancy-related deaths to identify preventable causes. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to share annual best practices for preventing maternal mortality with hospitals, medical societies, and maternity care groups. The bill increases annual funding for these programs from $58 million to $100 million, extending support through fiscal years 2026-2030. These changes directly affect state health agencies, hospitals, and medical professionals working on maternal health. The focus is on improving death record accuracy and implementing proven prevention strategies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 18, 2025

S 2858: SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025

This bill provides $5 million annually (2026-2030) to states for improving stillbirth data collection and research, directly affecting state health departments and public health officials. It requires states to collect deidentified stillbirth data - including risk factors - using existing systems like fetal mortality reviews, while ensuring strict privacy compliance. The bill also allocates $1 million yearly to develop standardized data collection guidelines and public educational materials about stillbirths, with input from medical professionals and bereavement organizations. It mandates a public HHS report within five years containing these guidelines and educational resources to improve data consistency and awareness. The legislation focuses on enhancing data quality for research and public health, without altering medical care or insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health

in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2025

HR 4493: Climate Health Emergency Act of 2025

HR 4493, the Climate Health Emergency Act of 2025, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency specifically for climate-related health risks under existing law. This bill directly affects the federal public health system by mandating this emergency declaration, based on findings that climate change drives over half of recent public health emergencies (like extreme weather and disease spread). The key mechanism is the formal declaration under the Public Health Service Act, aiming to mobilize federal resources and improve coordination for climate-driven health threats. It focuses on addressing the growing health impacts linked to climate change, as identified in congressional findings.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Climate Change Natural Disasters Public Health Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2025

S 2842: Stop CMV Act of 2025

This bill requires hospitals to screen all infants under 21 days old for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common viral infection that can cause hearing loss and developmental delays. It directs state health officials to establish screening standards and procedures, with the federal Advisory Committee stepping in if states fail to act within two years of the law's enactment. The bill authorizes funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health to support state screening programs, data systems, healthcare provider training, and research on CMV screening and treatments. These provisions directly affect newborns in hospitals, healthcare providers administering tests, and state public health agencies implementing the screening requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

in committee · United States · House Aug 5, 2025

HR 4903: Plastic Health Research Act

HR 4903, the Plastic Health Research Act, directs federal agencies to fund and coordinate research on the health effects of plastic exposure, including microplastics and nanoplastics. It authorizes $10 million annually (2026-2030) for grants to academic institutions and nonprofits to develop standardized testing methods, improve research comparability, and fill gaps in understanding plastic-related health impacts. The bill also creates "Centers of Excellence" to advance this research, requiring annual public reports on findings and coordination with agencies like the EPA and FDA. This legislation directly affects researchers, federal health agencies, and public health policy by prioritizing scientific rigor in studying plastic exposure sources (e.g., food packaging, waste disposal) and health outcomes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Public Health

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 3, 2025

S 3325: Expanding Access to Affordable Drugs and Medical Devices Act

This bill creates a new tax-exempt status ("public interest drug or medical device health care organization") for nonprofit organizations that manufacture or distribute affordable drugs and medical devices. To qualify, organizations must primarily focus on making eligible drugs/devices affordable (addressing shortages, unmet health needs, or public health emergencies), avoid conflicts with for-profit manufacturers, and meet strict board composition rules. Key provisions require organizations to agree to prioritize supplying designated drugs/devices to the federal strategic stockpile at cost during emergencies. The bill directly affects qualifying nonprofits seeking tax exemption, not patients or healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Public Health

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1394: Expanding Access to Family Planning Act

S 1394, the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, provides federal funding to support clinics offering family planning services under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. It allocates $512 million annually (2026-2035) for grants to clinics and $50 million for clinic infrastructure like construction and equipment. The bill requires clinics receiving this funding to provide nondirective pregnancy counseling, ensuring patients receive neutral information about all options - including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination - with referrals upon request. This directly affects Title X clinics and their patients by increasing financial support and mandating specific counseling standards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care Public Health Women's Health

in committee · United States · House Jan 8, 2026

HR 6989: Public Health Nursing Act

HR 6989, the Public Health Nursing Act, provides $5 billion annually (2026-2035) to expand the public health nursing workforce through grants to state, local, and territorial health departments. It directly affects underserved communities by funding the recruitment, hiring, and training of registered nurses in areas with high chronic disease rates, maternal mortality, low-income populations, or rural settings. Key provisions require grant recipients to use funds for nurse wages, medical supplies (like PPE), and administrative costs, while prioritizing services for medically underserved groups and culturally appropriate care. The bill also mandates maintaining pre-grant funding levels and defines public health nurses as those providing preventive care, maternal health services, and chronic disease management.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Primary Care Public Health

in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2025

HR 3102: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes.

This bill creates a new Office of Rural Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address healthcare needs in rural communities. The office will coordinate CDC research, develop policies, and award grants focused on improving rural health access - particularly through telehealth - while identifying healthcare gaps and disparities. It directly affects rural populations by targeting challenges like chronic disease prevention, injury prevention, and limited care access. The office will work across CDC programs and coordinate with other federal health agencies to avoid duplicating efforts on rural health initiatives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Public Health Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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