Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9642: Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

The Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act changes how Medicare pays for anesthesia services at specific small rural hospitals and critical access hospitals. To qualify for these changes, a hospital must be located in a rural area, have fewer than 800 surgeries requiring anesthesia, and employ or contract with no more than one full-time anesthesiologist who agrees not to bill Medicare separately for those services. Once a hospital meets these criteria, anesthesia care provided by an anesthesiologist there will be paid based on the hospital's actual costs rather than a fixed fee, and it will be classified as part of the hospital's inpatient services instead of a separate billable service. The law also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to update its regulations to reflect these new payment rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to anesthesia services in rural hospitals by adjusting payment structures, directly supporting healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 9, 2026

HR 9635: Getting Innovations to Patients During Shutdowns Act

This bill, known as the Getting Innovations to Patients During Shutdowns Act, allows the Food and Drug Administration to continue reviewing applications for new drugs and medical devices even if the government funding for these programs lapses. Under the new rules, the FDA may accept incomplete applications that are missing only fee payments and will automatically extend the deadline to pay those fees by seven days after the funding gap ends. If the required fees are not paid by this extended deadline, the application will be treated as rejected and cannot be approved until the payment is made. The legislation aims to prevent government shutdowns from halting the evaluation of critical medical products while ensuring that necessary fees are still collected.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures FDA continues reviewing drugs/devices during shutdowns, protecting patient access to new treatments.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 30, 2026

HR 9547: Veterans and Servicemembers PTSD Emerging Treatment Review Act of 2026

This bill directs the Department of Defense to review clinical trial data on psilocybin treatment for veterans and servicemembers with treatment-resistant PTSD. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to submit a report within 180 days analyzing the safety, dosing, and feasibility of these findings for military personnel, including those transitioning to civilian life. The report must also assess legal requirements for expanded access to the substance and outline plans for future pilot programs or research starting in fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the legislation mandates coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to ensure continuity of care and appropriate regulatory oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates a review of psilocybin treatment for PTSD, aiming to improve mental health access and expand therapeutic options for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill directs DoD to review psilocybin treatment for veteran PTSD, aiming to expand access and improve healthcare outcomes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4927: Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act

The Rural Hospital Emergency Room Guarantee Act creates a new funding program to support rural hospitals by establishing a dedicated Treasury fund that will provide annual payments to eligible facilities. To qualify for these funds, a hospital must be located in a rural area, participate in federal health programs, and operate a 24-hour emergency department, while also agreeing not to be owned by private equity or venture capital firms. The money received can only be used for normal operating expenses and staffing of the emergency department, with strict rules prohibiting transfers to other facilities or payments to executives. Additionally, the bill includes a special provision allowing for emergency payments of up to $250,000 if a hospital's emergency department is at risk of closing within two weeks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a dedicated Treasury fund to provide annual payments to rural hospitals, directly increasing funding for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a dedicated Treasury fund to provide annual payments to rural hospitals, explicitly increasing healthcare funding and protecting access to emergency services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · United States · House Jun 30, 2026

HR 9542: Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2026, directly affects individuals and entities impacted by previous Medicaid funding changes. Its primary mechanism is to repeal specific provisions from a 2024 reconciliation law that altered Medicaid funding rules, effectively restoring the program to its state before those changes were enacted. By removing these amendments, the legislation aims to reverse recent policy shifts regarding federal support for Medicaid without introducing new requirements or altering other parts of the healthcare system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill restores Medicaid funding by repealing cuts, thereby increasing government spending on essential health services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill restores Medicaid funding by repealing cuts, directly protecting and strengthening healthcare access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Jun 29, 2026

HR 9531: Preventing Stomach Cancer in Our Nation’s Heroes Act

The Preventing Stomach Cancer in Our Nation's Heroes Act directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 180 days outlining a plan to test military members for H. pylori bacteria as they transition to civilian life. This report must include cost estimates and a feasibility study for implementing screening using breath and stool-based methods, potentially incorporating input from medical experts specializing in gastrointestinal health. The legislation focuses on establishing a testing program rather than mandating immediate implementation, aiming to address the link between H. pylori and stomach cancer risks among veterans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates screening for military members to prevent stomach cancer, directly advancing public health and medical care access.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates testing military members for H. pylori to prevent stomach cancer, directly improving veteran healthcare and protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9488: Health Disparity Zones Act of 2026

The Health Disparity Zones Act of 2026 creates a program to designate specific geographic areas with high poverty, low life expectancy, and poor health outcomes as Health Disparity Zones. Once designated, these zones become eligible for a ten-year period of financial support, including a 10% increase in Medicare payments for services provided there, grants for community organizations, and tax credits for hiring local healthcare workers. The bill also establishes a student loan repayment program to encourage healthcare practitioners to work in these areas and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report annually on the program's progress and effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases Medicare payments, provides grants, and offers tax credits for hiring healthcare workers in designated zones.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill includes a student loan repayment program for residents of designated health disparity zones, enhancing educational access and financial support for students in high-need areas.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates high-need areas for funding, increases Medicare payments, and offers grants and tax credits to improve healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill includes tax credits for hiring local healthcare workers and student loan repayment, directly supporting employment and workforce development in designated zones.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4924: Preserving Patient Access Act

The Preserving Patient Access Act requires health insurance plans to grant special enrollment periods when they remove a doctor from their network or stop covering a specific prescription drug that a patient has used recently. Under this bill, Medicare Advantage and individual market plans must allow individuals to join or switch plans within the same year if their current provider becomes out-of-network after a visit within the last two years or if a covered medication is dropped from the formulary within the last six months. These protections apply to both Medicare Advantage plans and private individual market plans, ensuring that patients can maintain access to their preferred doctors and medications without waiting for the annual open enrollment window. The changes are scheduled to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient access by requiring special enrollment periods when providers are removed or drugs are dropped, preventing loss of care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4895: 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 starting in fiscal year 2027. It expands access to medication-assisted treatment by prohibiting insurance companies from imposing prior authorization requirements or cost-sharing fees for these drugs and mandates that health plans cover at least one formulation of opioid overdose reversal medications without deductibles. The legislation also establishes new programs and grants to support first responder training, recovery housing, mental health care for children exposed to trauma, and workforce development in areas with the highest overdose death rates. Additionally, the bill extends existing Medicaid waivers and creates a demonstration project to test whether providing recovery housing under Medicaid can reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations for individuals with opioid use disorders.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs billions in federal funding to states and local organizations for substance use disorder treatment, directly increasing government spending on public services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases funding for substance use disorder treatment and expands access to medication-assisted treatment, which reduces recidivism and improves rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases federal funding for substance use disorder treatment and expands access to medication-assisted treatment by removing insurance barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4885: Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act

The Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to launch a public awareness campaign educating medical professionals about organ and tissue donation processes and available screening tests. The bill increases civil penalties for violating safety regulations regarding human cell and tissue products, raising fines to $20,000 per violation with a maximum limit of $10 million per legal proceeding. Additionally, it requires the Food and Drug Administration to publish data on inspections and response times, establish a public docket for comments on regulatory modernization, and submit a report to Congress by September 2026 with recommendations on improving oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens patient safety and protects medical professionals by increasing penalties for violations and funding public awareness campaigns on tissue donation.95% confidence

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