Healthcare

in committee · United States · Senate May 15, 2025

S 1776: Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act

The Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act (S 1776) limits out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries receiving certain surgical procedures at ambulatory surgical centers. It ensures that coinsurance payments for these services cannot exceed the annual inpatient hospital deductible amount for the same year. If the standard coinsurance would surpass that deductible, the bill requires the Medicare Secretary to cap the beneficiary's payment at the deductible level and reimburse the surgical center for the difference. This change applies to services provided on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries undergoing qualifying surgeries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCaps Medicare co-pays for surgical procedures at inpatient deductible level, reducing patient financial burden and improving access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 5, 2025

HR 3769: Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2025

HR 3769, the Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2025, modifies tax rules to help families qualify for health insurance premium tax credits. It excludes certain income earned by dependents under age 18, or dependents aged 18-24 enrolled in approved education or job-training programs (like those under the Workforce Innovation Act), from being counted toward household income for credit calculations. The exclusion is limited to 15% of a family’s total income, and in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid, it cannot reduce household income below 100% of the federal poverty line. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and Affordable Care Act to implement these changes, affecting families claiming health insurance tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes dependent income from household calculations for premium tax credits, providing tax relief to lower-income families by increasing eligibility for subsidies.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExcludes dependent income from household calculations to increase eligibility for health insurance premium tax credits, expanding access to coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Children's Health Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · United States · House Dec 5, 2025

HRES 933: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the critical role of victim service providers in the response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by supporting victims through the physical, mental, emotional, financial, and legal challenges they may face in the aftermath of violence.

HRES 933 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for victim service providers who assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It acknowledges these providers - such as shelters, nonprofits, and community organizations - help survivors navigate legal, medical, and emotional challenges, including safety planning and connecting to resources. The resolution highlights their critical but often underfunded role and calls for meaningful investment to sustain their lifesaving work. (Note: As a resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the need for support.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill advocates for funding victim service providers addressing domestic violence and sexual assault, a critical component of criminal justice response systems.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill supports victim service providers addressing medical/mental health challenges in violence cases, calls for investment in underfunded services linked to healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 3, 2025

S 3321: FAIR Leave Act

The FAIR Leave Act (S 3321) repeals a 12-month waiting period requirement under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for spouses seeking leave. It directly affects spouses of employees covered by FMLA, removing a previous barrier to immediate eligibility. The key provision eliminates Section 102(f) of the FMLA, which had required spouses to work for 12 months before qualifying for leave. This change allows spouses to access FMLA leave from their first day of employment, without waiting for a year. The bill makes no other changes to FMLA provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves 12-month waiting period for FMLA medical leave, improving immediate access to healthcare services for spouses needing care.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals 12-month waiting period for FMLA spouse leave, expanding immediate access to family leave benefits and protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2561: Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act of 2025

This bill reforms how Medicare pays for skin substitute products used to treat chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. It establishes a new payment system based on a volume-weighted average of historical prices for all covered skin substitutes (excluding temporary dressings or certain other products), effective January 2026. This replaces current pricing that varied by product type and incentivized expensive options, aiming to contain costs while ensuring all clinically similar products are covered equally. The reform directly affects Medicare beneficiaries requiring wound care, healthcare providers selecting treatments, and Medicare's payment system for these products.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReforms Medicare payment for skin substitutes to contain costs while maintaining access to clinically similar products, supporting patient access to necessary treatments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $5B annually to expand public health nursing workforce in underserved areas, funding recruitment, training, and nurse wages to address chronic disease and maternal mortality, directly strengthening healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds nurse wages and workforce expansion in underserved communities, advancing employment standards in healthcare labor.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Primary Care Public Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Oct 31, 2025

HR 5872: Medical License Verification Act

This bill requires the federal government to create an automated system that verifies whether healthcare providers applying for a unique health identifier are licensed in good standing by their state. It directly affects healthcare providers who apply for these identifiers, ensuring their state licenses are valid before the identifier is issued. The system must be operational within 30 days of the bill's enactment, checking state licensure status automatically. This change modifies the Social Security Act to add this verification step before issuing identifiers to providers claiming state licensure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareVerifies healthcare provider licenses to ensure patient safety and quality of care, protecting patient rights by preventing unlicensed practitioners from operating.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Tags Licensing

Track

in committee · United States · Senate May 6, 2025

S 1629: Same Care, Lower Cost Act

This bill establishes "site-neutral" Medicare payments for specific outpatient services starting in 2027, meaning Medicare would pay the same rate regardless of whether care occurs in a hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or other approved setting. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (older adults and people with disabilities) and healthcare providers by changing how they are reimbursed for approximately 66 identified common procedures like surgeries and diagnostic tests. The key mechanism requires the Medicare Secretary to identify these service categories and set uniform payment rates, while exempting emergency department visits and critical care from this rule. This aims to standardize payments across settings without altering coverage or eligibility for beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes site-neutral Medicare payments to lower costs for beneficiaries and providers, improving cost efficiency in healthcare delivery per bill title and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Medicare

Track

in committee · United States · House Nov 21, 2025

HR 6246: Save American Healthcare Act

This bill extends health insurance premium tax credits for taxpayers with household incomes above 400% of the poverty line, temporarily allowing credits for those who would otherwise lose eligibility. It modifies the Internal Revenue Code to apply this extension without a fixed end date, instead tying it to budget estimates that must balance increased federal costs against tariff revenue gains. The key provision adjusts how the credit amount is calculated for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, using a temporary rule based on projected federal budget impacts. It directly affects middle- and higher-income individuals who rely on these subsidies to afford health insurance coverage. The bill does not change eligibility thresholds but extends current subsidy rules under specific fiscal constraints.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExtends tax credits to higher-income taxpayers (above 400% poverty), creating tax breaks for wealthy, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends health insurance premium tax credits for higher-income individuals, preventing loss of eligibility and expanding coverage access. Directly strengthens insurance affordability under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 3884: Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025

HR 3884, the Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025, expands Medicare coverage for mental and behavioral health services provided via telehealth. It removes geographic restrictions that previously limited telehealth mental health coverage to rural areas, allowing beneficiaries nationwide to access these services through telehealth. The bill amends the Social Security Act to explicitly include "mental and behavioral health services furnished through telehealth" under Medicare coverage rules. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking remote mental health care, making it easier to receive these services regardless of location. The policy change applies to all Medicare Part B beneficiaries using telehealth for qualifying mental or behavioral health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare coverage for mental health telehealth nationwide, removing rural restrictions and explicitly including mental health services under telehealth coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth

Track