This bill changes the tax code to allow individuals to deduct payments to health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) as medical expenses, similar to traditional health insurance costs. It directly affects people enrolled in HCSMs - groups that share medical costs among members without being regulated as insurance. The bill adds HCSM membership fees and shared medical expenses to the list of deductible medical costs under Section 213(d)(1) of the tax code and clarifies that HCSMs are not treated as health insurance or health plans. These changes would take effect for tax years starting in 2026.
The Building Capacity for Care Act (HR 2223) provides loans, loan guarantees, and grants to help hospitals and mental health/substance use disorder treatment facilities build or improve services. It specifically targets facilities that will increase psychiatric or substance use disorder bed capacity in areas with insufficient services, high overdose death rates, or high suicide rates. Eligible entities must cover at least 25% of project costs from non-federal sources. The bill authorizes up to $200 million annually from fiscal years 2025-2029 for these programs, with grants prioritized for facilities in mental health shortage areas or communities with high rates of overdose deaths or suicides. A new trust fund will be established to support community mental health services using revenues from these programs.
This resolution honors Dr. Paul Farmer's legacy by calling on the U.S. Federal Government to adopt a new global health strategy focused on ending preventable deaths in low-income countries. It proposes concrete actions including increasing annual health funding to $125 billion (to meet international aid targets), supporting health systems through Dr. Farmer's "Five S's" framework (staff, infrastructure, medical tools, governance, and community support), and addressing economic harms like unfair debt and tax evasion that hinder health financing. The resolution specifically targets low- and lower-middle-income countries where health systems face critical resource gaps, citing data showing decades-long delays in reducing mortality rates. It emphasizes aligning aid with national health plans and ensuring medical technologies become global public goods, without proposing binding legislation.
The MAPS Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update and maintain an Essential Medicines List including drugs critical for national security, public health emergencies, chronic conditions, and military readiness. It mandates annual risk assessments identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly drugs sourced over 50% from high-risk foreign suppliers like China, and compiles data on manufacturing locations and shortages. The bill directs HHS to map U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains from raw materials to finished products, using data analytics to identify national security threats, and report findings annually to Congress. This directly affects federal agencies (HHS, Defense), drug manufacturers, and supply chain stakeholders through mandatory reporting and transparency requirements.
This bill extends Medicare payment incentives for healthcare providers using alternative payment models, directly affecting Medicare participating doctors and hospitals. It updates specific years in payment formulas from 2026 to 2027 and adjusts the 2027 incentive rate from 1.88% to 3.53%. The key mechanism modifies Medicare payment rules to maintain existing financial incentives through 2028, ensuring continuity for providers participating in these models. The changes are technical amendments to the Social Security Act's Medicare provisions.
The Telehealth Modernization Act extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027, removing geographic restrictions and allowing audio-only visits. It expands who can provide telehealth services (including nurse practitioners and rural health clinics) and requires new guidance for serving patients with limited English proficiency. The bill also extends certain hospice care provisions and includes virtual diabetes prevention program options. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology companies.
This bill would require states to create a simplified process for out-of-state healthcare providers to join Medicaid and CHIP programs. Qualified providers (those already enrolled in Medicare or another state's program with low fraud risk) could enroll without excessive screening and would be approved for five years. It directly affects children under 21 enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP by expanding access to providers outside their state, particularly in underserved areas. The change applies to all states' Medicaid programs but takes effect three years after enactment.
SRES 590 designates January 23, 2026, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" to highlight ongoing challenges in maternal health care. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about preventable pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and racial disparities - such as Black women facing over three times higher pregnancy-related mortality rates than White women - while encouraging federal, state, and community action. It does not create new laws or funding but calls for recognizing these issues and supporting existing initiatives like expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage and maternal mortality review committees. This symbolic gesture targets broad audiences including healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public to promote equitable care.
SRES 324 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing concern over actions taken by the Trump Administration. It criticizes policies that drastically reduced federal agency staff, froze critical funding, and dismantled agencies, stating these actions harm communities and raise costs for families. The resolution specifically highlights impacts on programs serving 32 million patients through health centers, Social Security/Medicare access, veterans' services, small business support, and medical research. It does not create new policy but formally states the Senate’s view that these actions are destructive and harmful. The resolution lists 12 specific areas affected, including housing assistance, disability education programs, and foreign aid reductions.
HRES 225 is a symbolic resolution designating March as "Autoimmune Awareness Month" to raise public awareness about autoimmune diseases. It supports efforts to improve diagnosis (noting it takes an average of 4.5 years for a correct diagnosis), increase funding for research into root causes, and advance treatments for these conditions. The resolution directly affects the public, patients (especially women and children affected by these diseases), and researchers, as autoimmune diseases impact an estimated 50 million Americans. It does not create new laws or funding but urges collaboration among healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and researchers to address this underrecognized health challenge. The resolution emphasizes the need for standardized diagnostic tools and research focused on preventing disease damage rather than treating symptoms.
