Healthcare (Medicare)

in committee · United States · House Jan 2, 2026

HR 6937: End H-1B Now Act

This bill would gradually phase out the H-1B visa program, reducing annual caps from 10,000 in fiscal year 2026 to zero by 2035. It eliminates H-1B eligibility for fashion models, requires applicants to maintain foreign residence, and restricts specialty occupation visas to only physicians, surgeons, and nurses. Additionally, the bill prohibits Medicare funding for medical residency programs training foreign nationals. These changes directly affect foreign workers seeking H-1B visas, employers who sponsor them, and healthcare training programs receiving federal funding.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits Medicare funding for medical residency programs training foreign nationals, directly defunding healthcare workforce development for physicians and nurses.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationPhases out H-1B visas, restricts specialty occupation access, and eliminates foreign worker training funding - directly limiting immigrant work opportunities and access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Nov 25, 2025

HR 6296: Advancing Access to Telehealth Act

The Advancing Access to Telehealth Act makes permanent Medicare's temporary telehealth flexibilities that were expanded during the public health emergency. It allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, substance use disorder, and home dialysis without needing an initial in-person visit. The bill also expands eligibility for telehealth providers to include more healthcare professionals and permanently authorizes Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to offer telehealth services. Additionally, it permits audio-only telehealth calls for certain services, removing previous video-only requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare telehealth access for mental health, stroke, and substance use without in-person requirement, improving patient access to care.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands telehealth access and permanently authorizes digital health services, promoting technology integration in healthcare delivery.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House Sep 10, 2025

HR 5281: REAL Health Providers Act

HR 5281, the REAL Health Providers Act, requires Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to maintain accurate, publicly accessible provider directories starting in 2028. It mandates that plans verify directory information every 90 days (or annually for hospitals), flag outdated entries, and remove providers no longer in-network within 5 business days. The bill also ensures Medicare beneficiaries are not charged extra for services from providers listed in directories but not actually in-network, covering the difference between in-network and out-of-network cost-sharing. MA plans must report annual accuracy scores to Medicare, which will be published online starting in 2029, with $4 million allocated for implementation. This directly affects MA organizations and beneficiaries by improving access to reliable provider information and reducing unexpected costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates accurate provider directories and prevents unexpected charges for beneficiaries, protecting patient rights and access to care under Medicare Advantage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 17, 2025

HR 4475: Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act

This bill prohibits Medicare from paying for orthotics or prosthetics delivered directly to patients without in-person training from a qualified provider (a "drop shipment"), ensuring beneficiaries receive proper fitting and use instructions. It expands the list of healthcare providers who can prescribe these devices to include physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, and prosthetists. The bill also specifically requires Medicare to cover replacements for custom-fitted orthotics and custom-fabricated orthotic devices, aligning with existing rules for prosthetic replacements. These changes aim to improve patient safety and access to properly fitted devices under Medicare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare coverage for orthotics/prosthetics with in-person training requirements and allows more providers to prescribe, improving patient access and safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1775: Second Chances for Rural Hospitals Act

This bill expands Medicare's definition of "rural emergency hospital" to allow certain closed rural hospitals to rejoin the program. Specifically, it creates a new eligibility category for facilities that were critical access hospitals or rural hospitals (under Section 1886(d)) in rural counties, ceased operations between January 2014 and December 2020, and submit an application to become rural emergency hospitals. The bill modifies Medicare payment rules to provide specific adjustments for these reactivated facilities, including distance requirements (e.g., hospitals within 35 miles of another hospital won't receive immediate payment increases). The changes take effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting rural hospitals that closed during the specified period and wish to rejoin Medicare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare access for rural hospitals, improving patient care in underserved areas by enabling closed facilities to rejoin program and receive adjusted payments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Oct 10, 2025

HR 5736: PAVE Act

HR 5736, the PAVE Act, requires Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older to receive penicillin allergy verification during their initial preventive physical exam and annual wellness visit. The bill mandates that healthcare providers identify patients reporting a penicillin allergy, evaluate whether the reported reaction was a true allergy, explain the health risks of a false allergy label, and refer to specialists when needed. This verification process, effective January 2027, aims to correct false allergy labels - over 90% of which are inaccurate - improving antibiotic choices and patient outcomes. It directly affects seniors covered by Medicare who have self-reported penicillin allergies, with no cost to patients for this service.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates allergy verification to correct false labels, improving antibiotic safety and patient access to appropriate care for Medicare beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2025

HR 2191: Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act

This bill modifies Medicare's physician self-referral rules to improve access for rural communities. It creates a new exemption for "covered rural hospitals" (defined as facilities in rural areas more than 35 miles from another hospital or critical access hospital) from certain restrictions on physicians owning hospitals. The bill also removes a prohibition on expanding existing physician-owned hospitals, allowing such expansions after the law's enactment. These changes directly affect rural hospitals seeking Medicare participation and physicians who own or operate hospitals in underserved areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly improves rural healthcare access by removing restrictions on physician-owned hospitals and expanding coverage for rural communities, directly advancing healthcare access in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 10, 2025

HR 2005: DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025

This bill extends current Medicare payment rates for durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs and oxygen) in non-rural areas through December 2025. It delays implementing a new payment rule for all areas until January 2026. The law directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing equipment and the suppliers who provide it by maintaining existing reimbursement rates for an additional year. This avoids immediate payment reductions for non-rural areas while postponing the full transition to new rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicare payment rates for durable medical equipment, preventing immediate reimbursement cuts for beneficiaries and suppliers, strengthening access to essential healthcare devices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2025

HR 3263: PATCH Act

HR 3263, the PATCH Act, modifies Medicare payment rules for physicians in Hawaii. It requires the Medicare program to set a minimum payment adjustment factor of 1.5 for physician services provided in Hawaii starting January 1, 2026, if the standard calculation would result in a lower value. This change directly affects Medicare-reimbursed physicians and healthcare providers operating in Hawaii. The key mechanism is a floor on the "work geographic index," ensuring payments in Hawaii do not fall below this minimum level. The provision applies specifically to services furnished in Hawaii after 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents Medicare payment cuts for Hawaii physicians by setting a minimum reimbursement floor, ensuring stable provider compensation and maintaining healthcare access in the state.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Feb 26, 2025

HR 1616: Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act

This bill amends Medicare rules to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to certify diabetic shoe coverage for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, expanding the current requirement that only physicians could provide this documentation. It directly affects Medicare patients needing specialized footwear due to diabetes and healthcare providers like NPs and PAs who would now be authorized to meet the certification requirement. The key change modifies Section 1861(s)(12) of the Social Security Act to insert "nurse practitioner, or physician assistant" in all relevant sections of the documentation rules. This update simplifies access to covered diabetic shoes by broadening which healthcare professionals can issue the necessary certification.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare access by allowing NPs/PAs to certify diabetic shoes, improving patient access to necessary care without restricting coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medicare

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