Healthcare

S 1878, the ATTAIN Mental Health Act, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a public online dashboard within two years of enactment. This dashboard will list all federal mental health and substance use disorder grant programs, including current application status (open/closed/awarded) and deadlines, and allow users to search by location or topic. It will integrate state-level grant information where available and link directly to application pages, making it easier for schools, clinics, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and other potential applicants to find funding opportunities. The dashboard must comply with accessibility standards and be updated continuously to reflect current grant opportunities.

S 2377, the EACH Act of 2025, requires all federal health programs - including Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Indian Health Service - to cover abortion services without restrictions based on income or insurance type. It repeals the Hyde Amendment (Section 1303 of the ACA), which previously barred federal funds from covering most abortions, and prohibits state or private insurance plans from restricting abortion coverage. This directly affects millions enrolled in federal health programs, particularly low-income individuals, women of color, and young people, who face barriers to abortion access under current laws. The bill mandates that all federally funded health programs provide comprehensive abortion coverage as a standard benefit.

HR 6662, the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Credentialing Integration Act of 2025, requires the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to create a single, unified system for medical provider credentialing and privileging. It directly affects military and VA medical staff (like doctors and nurses) by replacing separate, non-interoperable systems currently used by each department. Key provisions mandate a joint report on existing systems within 120 days, selection of one unified system by January 2027, and full implementation by January 2028, ensuring seamless sharing of provider credentials across both departments. This eliminates redundant credentialing processes and improves administrative efficiency for medical providers working across DoD and VA facilities.

This bill eliminates a lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital care for Medicare beneficiaries. Currently, Medicare restricts coverage to 190 days total for such care; this bill removes that cap entirely. The key change amends Section 1812 of the Social Security Act to allow unlimited coverage for inpatient psychiatric hospital services under Medicare. The provision takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting Medicare patients requiring long-term inpatient mental health treatment.

Lower Health Care Costs Act This bill extends for three years, through 2028, temporary changes enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit.  Currently, eligible taxpayers may be able to claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To be eligible for the premium tax credit, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA eliminated the maximum income limit, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit. Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is (1) generally the plan premium (conditions apply), minus (2) the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage is a specific percentage that varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA lowered the applicable percentages and eliminated the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit. The bill extends for three years, through 2028, the elimination of the 400% maximum income limit, the lower applicable percentages, and the elimination of the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.

This bill requires the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program to provide servicemembers and veterans with specific, standardized mental health information during their transition from military to civilian life. It mandates inclusion of details on suicide risk factors (like depression, homelessness, and relationship strain), PTSD treatment options, substance abuse resources, and the impact of losing military support networks. Both programs must cover these topics in their counseling materials, directly affecting active-duty service members separating from the military and newly enrolled veterans. The bill also requires the Defense and Veterans Affairs Secretaries to jointly report to Congress within one year on the implementation of these changes.

S 1895, the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act, creates a federal program to expand school-based mental health services by subsidizing graduate education costs for future school psychologists, counselors, and social workers. It authorizes $20-50 million annually (2026-2030) to cover up to 50% of tuition for students in accredited school-based mental health programs, requiring participating universities to match these funds. The program prioritizes students who received Federal Pell Grants or attended designated institutions under the Higher Education Act. Participating schools must report annually on student demographics, program coverage, and outcomes, with independent evaluations required after four years to assess effectiveness.

This bill delays Medicare payment changes for ground ambulance services until 2028 and adds temporary rate increases during a transition period. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries using ambulance services and ambulance providers who bill Medicare, particularly in rural areas. Key provisions extend the effective date for payment adjustments from October 2025 to January 2028 and establish temporary payment rates: 26.7% for super-rural ambulance services and 4.3% or 3.4% for regular ground ambulance services during the transition period (October 2025-January 2028). These changes aim to prevent sudden payment cuts that could disrupt access to ambulance care.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services by removing geographic restrictions that previously limited where patients could receive telehealth care. It allows more healthcare providers to offer telehealth services, including expanding eligibility for practitioners and removing the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health. The bill also includes specific provisions for Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural health clinics, and Native American health facilities to better integrate telehealth into their services. Additionally, it establishes program integrity measures to address billing patterns and requires the posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency and quality measurement. These changes aim to make telehealth more accessible for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly in rural areas and for underserved populations.

The Families Care Act amends the Older Americans Act to improve support for family caregivers. It adds peer support services alongside counseling for caregivers and requires states to specifically consider the needs of children caring for older relatives affected by substance use disorders, including opioid addiction. The bill also changes reporting requirements so the Assistant Secretary must regularly publish and disseminate program information instead of making it available by specific deadlines. This directly affects family caregivers, particularly those navigating complex situations involving elder care and substance use. The changes aim to make support services more responsive to diverse caregiver circumstances.