Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9712: Mamas First Act

The Mamas First Act aims to reduce maternal mortality rates by expanding Medicaid coverage to include support services from doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation providers. This legislation modifies the Social Security Act to allow these professionals to bill Medicaid for prenatal, labor, and postpartum care delivered in various settings, including homes, hospitals, and clinics. To qualify for reimbursement, doulas must hold a certification requiring continuing education and gather specific client or provider recommendations, while midwives and lactation support providers must meet defined state or international standards. The bill also prohibits Medicaid programs from charging copayments or deductibles for these essential services, with the changes taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation services, directly strengthening healthcare access and funding for maternal care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Jul 6, 2026

HR 9599: SECURE 340B Act

The SECURE 340B Act strengthens oversight of the drug discount program for safety-net health care providers by establishing clearer definitions for patients and prescribing providers, requiring detailed record-keeping to prove a legitimate patient relationship. The bill introduces strict rules for contract pharmacies, mandating that manufacturers cannot restrict discounts based on their use and requiring full transparency on where these drugs are dispensed. It also expands eligibility for child sites of covered entities while imposing a new community need standard based on geographic vulnerability scores to prevent abuse. To improve program integrity, the legislation creates a centralized data clearinghouse to track claims and prevent duplicate discounts, while simultaneously prohibiting discriminatory practices by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers against covered entities. Finally, the Act authorizes new user fees and additional funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration to support expanded audits and enforcement activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens oversight of drug discount programs for safety-net providers, ensuring patient access to affordable medications and protecting legitimate patient relationships.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 9117: CHECK Act of 2026

The CHECK Act of 2026 requires healthcare intermediaries, such as pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators, to provide group health plans with quarterly, detailed reports on their pricing formulas, rebates, and fees without charge. This legislation also mandates that these providers supply specific data on alternative payment models and prohibits contract clauses that delay or restrict access to this financial information. Additionally, the bill expands transparency for patients by requiring health plans to send itemized explanations of benefits within 45 days of a payment request and obligating healthcare providers to issue itemized bills that include plain language descriptions, billing codes, and charity care information. These new reporting and billing requirements are designed to help plans verify costs and enable patients to better understand their medical expenses. Non-compliance with these disclosure rules could result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day for service providers and up to $10,000 per instance for healthcare facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency in healthcare pricing and fees, protecting patient rights and improving access to financial information.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 20, 2026

S 5034: Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act of 2026

The Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act of 2026 requires Medicare Advantage plans to submit detailed data on supplemental benefits to the federal government starting in 2029. This information will include specific details about what benefits are offered, eligibility rules, and how much each enrollee spends on these services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will then make this de-identified data available to the public and researchers for analysis after a two-year delay. To support the implementation of these reporting requirements, the bill appropriates $12 million for fiscal year 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency of Medicare Advantage benefits, improving patient access to information and enabling better analysis of healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 9754: Health Claim Denial Transparency Act

The Health Claim Denial Transparency Act requires group health plans to include detailed data in their annual reports, specifically detailing the number of claims submitted, approved, denied, and appealed. This reporting covers various claim types, including prescription drugs, mental health services, cancer treatments, and those processed using artificial intelligence, while also specifying the reasons for denials such as lack of prior authorization or medical necessity. The law applies to plans with fewer than 100 participants and includes an exception for small plans that handle very few specific types of claims to avoid excessive administrative burdens. By mandating this disclosure, the bill aims to increase visibility into how health plans process and reject medical benefit requests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases transparency in claim denials, protecting patient rights and improving access to healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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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 · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 4993: POPCaP Act of 2026

The POPCaP Act of 2026 establishes a precision oncology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically for veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer. To deliver this care, the bill designates 21 existing VA medical centers across the country as provisional centers of excellence, requiring each to perform genetic sequencing, participate in clinical trials, and maintain specific staffing levels including oncologists and researchers. These centers will operate under a centralized leadership team that coordinates research activities, manages a national data registry, and ensures veterans have access to the latest biomarker-specific treatments. The legislation authorizes $15.5 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund the program and mandates annual reports to Congress detailing patient outcomes and research progress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a precision oncology program, designates centers of excellence, and mandates genetic sequencing and clinical trials to improve prostate cancer care for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes a precision oncology program for veterans with prostate cancer, designating VA centers to improve specialized healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 14, 2026

S 4963: Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026

The Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 changes how Medicare calculates payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers starting in 2027. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use the same annual price increase factors applied to other outpatient services, rather than a separate calculation. Additionally, the bill removes a specific rule that previously limited these payment updates to keep total spending flat, allowing for more consistent price adjustments. These changes directly affect hospitals and clinics that perform surgeries on an outpatient basis and the patients who receive those services under Medicare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to surgery by aligning payment updates and removing spending caps.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 9759: Turn the Tide Act

The Turn the Tide Act primarily increases federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery services, directing billions of dollars to states, tribes, and local organizations for the years 2027 through 2030. Key provisions include expanding Medicaid coverage for mental health and behavioral health services, removing insurance barriers to medication-assisted treatment, and limiting cost-sharing requirements for opioid overdose reversal medications. The bill also establishes new grant programs to support recovery housing, train first responders, and assist law enforcement with mental health and wellness initiatives. Additionally, it targets funding toward states with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths and extends existing waivers to improve Medicaid delivery systems in those areas.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds substance use disorder treatment and removes barriers to medication-assisted treatment, addressing root causes of crime and supporting rehabilitation.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, expands Medicaid coverage, and removes insurance barriers to essential medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 9734: Protecting Patients from Automated Denials Act

The Protecting Patients from Automated Denials Act requires Medicare Advantage plans to ensure that any denial of medical coverage based on artificial intelligence is reviewed and approved by a qualified physician before it is issued. This rule, which applies to plan years starting on or after January 1, 2027, mandates that the reviewing doctor must exercise independent medical judgment and provide a signed statement confirming the denial was not generated by AI. Additionally, the plan must inform the patient and provider that AI was used, share the doctor's contact information, and keep detailed records of the process for at least 10 years. The legislation also establishes a system for the government to audit these plans and requires them to submit regular reports on how often AI is used to deny care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by requiring physician review of AI-driven medical denials, ensuring human oversight in healthcare decisions.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts AI usage in medical decisions by mandating physician review, limiting the scope of automated technology.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Artificial Intelligence

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