Healthcare (Hospitals)

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1191: Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025

HR 1191, the Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025, waives certain distance requirements under Medicare law for specific rural hospitals. It allows hospitals participating in a Medicare demonstration program as of the bill's enactment date to be designated as critical access hospitals during a one-year window after the law takes effect. This change directly affects rural community hospitals enrolled in the Medicare demonstration program, making it easier for them to qualify for critical access hospital status. The key mechanism adds a new pathway to designation under existing Medicare rules, specifically for hospitals already in the demonstration program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareWaives Medicare distance requirements for rural hospitals, enabling easier CAH designation to maintain access and funding for critical healthcare services in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 1358: No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025

This bill requires healthcare facilities to create written policies about patient visitation rights under the Social Security Act. It mandates that facilities inform patients of their right to choose visitors (including spouses, family, or friends) and withdraw consent anytime, while prohibiting restrictions based on race, disability, or other protected characteristics. Facilities must also clearly explain any clinical restrictions on visitation and ensure equal privileges for all visitors. The law directly affects patients in healthcare institutions and the facilities providing their care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare facilities to implement non-discriminatory visitation policies, protecting patient rights and access to social support during care per Social Security Act mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 4, 2025

S 2709: Telehealth Modernization Act

The Telehealth Modernization Act extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027, allowing more patients to access care remotely without geographic restrictions. It expands who can provide telehealth services (including audio-only visits), extends telehealth use for hospice recertification, and updates coverage for in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The bill also extends "acute hospital care at home" program flexibilities through 2030 and requires a study on this program's effectiveness. Additionally, it includes provisions to improve telehealth access for patients with limited English proficiency and enhances Medicare coverage for virtual diabetes prevention programs. These changes primarily affect Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth service companies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicare telehealth flexibilities, removes geographic restrictions, expands provider eligibility (including audio-only), and updates coverage for in-home care - directly improving patient access and expanding health services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands telehealth services using technology, enabling remote care access without geographic restrictions, advancing tech application in healthcare delivery.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House May 5, 2025

HR 3178: Save Healthcare Workers Act

HR 3178, the Save Healthcare Workers Act, creates a new federal crime for assaulting hospital staff while they are performing their duties, with penalties including fines and up to 10 years in prison (up to 20 years for aggravated cases involving weapons or injuries). The bill directly affects hospital employees - including nurses, doctors, and support staff - across all covered facilities (such as emergency rooms, long-term care centers, and children’s hospitals) by criminalizing violence that disrupts patient care. It also establishes a $25 million annual grant program (2025-2034) to help hospitals implement safety measures like staff de-escalation training, security technology, and coordination with local law enforcement. These provisions aim to address workplace violence in healthcare settings, which the bill cites as a growing problem affecting service delivery and staff retention.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new federal crime with enhanced penalties (up to 10 years) for assaulting healthcare workers, directly strengthening criminal justice enforcement for this specific offense.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare workers from violence, ensuring safer environments for patient care delivery and strengthening healthcare system stability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCriminalizes assault on healthcare workers, directly protecting workplace safety rights for nurses, doctors, and staff in covered facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Long-Term Care

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in committee · United States · House Mar 20, 2026

HR 7514: Rural Health Care Facilities Revitalization Act

This bill creates new funding opportunities for rural health facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and long-term care centers) in areas with populations under 50,000. It allows these facilities to use existing Rural Development Agency funds to refinance debt, update telehealth/equipment, or cover operating costs - provided the assistance preserves health access and improves the facility’s financial health. Eligibility requires the facility to be in a rural area or a persistent poverty area (defined as a 20%+ poverty rate for 30 years), and the Secretary may waive certain requirements for insolvent facilities in distressed communities. The law amends existing farm and rural development programs to directly support rural health infrastructure without creating new funding streams.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides new funding for rural health facilities to improve access, update telehealth, and cover operating costs, directly advancing healthcare access and facility sustainability.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds telehealth equipment updates for rural facilities, advancing technology access in underserved areas.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House May 8, 2025

HR 3266: Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025

HR 3266, the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025, provides federal loans and loan guarantees to help build or upgrade mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities. It directly affects eligible entities like hospitals, clinics, and community facilities - especially those serving pediatric or adult patients in underserved rural areas or communities with insufficient psychiatric bed capacity. Key provisions include requiring borrowers to cover 25% of project costs, prioritizing projects that increase bed availability in high-need areas, and capping annual funding at $200 million (2026-2030). The bill establishes specific terms for loans, such as 20-year maximum terms and a 25% set-aside for pediatric facilities, to expand access to inpatient and outpatient care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides federal loans/guarantees to build mental health facilities in underserved areas, directly expanding access to treatment services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1390: Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

This bill amends federal rules governing physician self-referral to improve access for rural hospitals. It creates a new exemption for "covered rural hospitals" (defined as rural facilities meeting specific criteria) from certain referral restrictions, while clarifying they aren't required to meet additional criteria. It also removes a prohibition on expanding existing physician-owned hospitals, allowing such expansions to begin immediately upon enactment. The changes directly affect rural hospitals qualifying under the new definition and physician-owned hospitals seeking to expand. The bill modifies existing Social Security Act provisions without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends referral rules to improve rural hospital access and allows physician-owned hospital expansions, directly enhancing healthcare access in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1208: No Tax Breaks for Radical Corporate Activism Act

This bill denies tax deductions to employers for expenses related to two specific services: (1) reimbursing employees for travel to obtain an abortion, and (2) covering gender transition procedures for a minor child (under age 18). It directly affects employers who provide health benefits or reimbursements for these services, making such costs non-deductible for tax purposes. Key provisions define "gender transition procedure" broadly to include medical/surgical services, puberty-blocking drugs, and cross-sex hormones, with limited exceptions for medically verified disorders of sex development or complications from prior procedures. The law would take effect for taxable years after enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDenies tax deductions for specific employer expenses, directly restricting tax breaks for health-related services under fiscal policy.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDenies tax deductions for abortion travel reimbursement and gender transition procedures for minors, reducing employer coverage and limiting patient access to these healthcare services.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentDenies tax deductions for employer-provided abortion travel and gender transition care, discouraging such benefits and restricting employee access to healthcare support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 24, 2025

S 2439: Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 adds 14,000 new residency training positions over seven years (2027-2033), distributing 2,000 annually through a structured application process. It directly affects hospitals applying for these positions, requiring them to commit to filling the new spots and prioritizing rural hospitals, those serving health shortage areas, and hospitals affiliated with historically Black medical schools. Key mechanisms include seven annual application rounds, rules for carrying over unused positions, and minimum distribution quotas (e.g., 10% to rural hospitals). The bill also mandates a study on increasing diversity in the health workforce, with a report due to Congress within two years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates 14,000 residency positions over 7 years, requiring funding allocation for new training spots and hospital commitments, representing increased government spending on healthcare infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds 14,000 physician residency positions over 7 years, prioritizing rural/underserved areas to address physician shortages and improve healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Medical Licensing

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in committee · United States · Senate May 19, 2025

S 1800: Rural Health Sustainability Act of 2025

The Rural Health Sustainability Act of 2025 modifies Medicare rules to change how hospitals qualify as "rural emergency hospitals." It adds a new requirement that hospitals must first have been designated as rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy. This change affects hospitals seeking this specific Medicare designation, which is needed to receive certain reimbursement rates for rural emergency services. The bill also adjusts the effective date of existing criteria to January 1, 2014, but the key new provision focuses on the HRSA designation requirement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires HRSA rural designation for Medicare reimbursement, ensuring targeted funding for rural emergency services and sustaining access to healthcare in underserved areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Tags Rural Communities

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