Healthcare (Medicaid)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3886: Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act

This bill establishes minimum nurse staffing requirements for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid. It requires facilities to provide 24-hour registered nurse coverage (transitioning from 8-hour daily coverage within 180 days of enactment) and maintain a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident daily. The bill mandates a study every four years to review staffing standards based on resident needs and safety data, with findings informing future regulations. Additionally, it directs states to use a portion of collected civil penalties to fund workforce programs like student loan repayment and career pathway development for nursing home staff.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates minimum nurse staffing (24/7 RN coverage, 3.48 hrs/resident/day) in Medicare/Medicaid nursing homes, directly improving healthcare quality and resident safety in long-term care facilities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 24/7 RN coverage & 3.48 hrs/resident daily, improving workplace safety and nurse employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2025

HR 2202: End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act of 2025

HR 2202 prohibits federal funds from being used for gender transition procedures or health plans covering them in federal programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. It does not ban these procedures but restricts federal subsidies, requiring individuals to pay for such coverage using non-federal funds (e.g., out-of-pocket or private insurance not tied to federal programs). The bill defines gender transition procedures broadly to include hormonal treatments and surgeries (e.g., mastectomy, hysterectomy), with exceptions for medically necessary treatments related to disorders of sex development or complications from such procedures. It also clarifies that ACA premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions cannot apply to plans covering these procedures, though separate non-federal-funded coverage remains an option.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds gender transition care in federal programs (Medicaid/ACA), restricting government spending on this service.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill defunds federal coverage for gender transition procedures in Medicaid/ACA, restricting access to specific healthcare services under public programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 3345: PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act

The PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to be more transparent about drug pricing and ensure accurate payments to pharmacies. It establishes national average drug acquisition cost benchmarks for Medicaid, prohibits PBMs from keeping excessive profits through "spread pricing," and mandates detailed reporting of drug pricing, rebates, and fees. The bill affects Medicaid programs, Medicare Part D plans, and the PBMs that negotiate drug prices on behalf of insurers. It includes enforcement mechanisms like civil penalties for non-compliance and requires PBMs to report detailed pricing information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBM transparency, prohibits spread pricing, and mandates reporting to lower drug costs and improve patient access under Medicaid/Medicare programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 2833: Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act

The Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act establishes an Advisory Committee on Falls Prevention within the Older Americans Act to coordinate federal efforts targeting falls among older adults. The committee will develop a national falls prevention plan, assess current federal programs (including Medicare and Medicaid initiatives), and recommend evidence-based interventions like home modifications and screening tools. It requires annual reports to Congress evaluating program effectiveness, progress on reducing falls-related injuries, and recommendations for expanding successful pilots. The bill directly affects federal agencies, Medicare beneficiaries, and older adults at risk of falls, focusing on concrete policy coordination rather than new funding or mandates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes advisory committee under Older Americans Act to coordinate falls prevention, assess Medicare/Medicaid programs, and recommend evidence-based interventions like home modifications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 2289: Healthy Moms and Babies Act

The Healthy Moms and Babies Act (S 2289) aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by strengthening Medicaid and CHIP programs. It requires states to report on maternal health quality measures, establishes a new "maternity health home" option for coordinated care during pregnancy and postpartum, and mandates studies on reducing cesarean sections and expanding doula services under Medicaid. The bill also requires states to collect data on social determinants of health affecting pregnant and postpartum women and provides guidance for reducing maternal mortality and severe morbidity. These provisions directly affect pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Medicaid, healthcare providers, and state Medicaid programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens Medicaid/CHIP programs, establishes maternity care coordination, expands doula services under Medicaid - directly advances maternal healthcare access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Women's Health

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in committee · United States · House Dec 19, 2025

HR 4611: EACH Act of 2025

HR 4611 (EACH Act of 2025) requires all federally funded health programs - including Medicaid, Medicare, military health plans, and the Indian Health Service - to cover abortion services without restrictions, repealing the Hyde Amendment's long-standing ban on federal funding for most abortions. This directly affects millions of people enrolled in these programs, particularly low-income women, women of color (including 25% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women on Medicaid), and young people. The bill mandates coverage in all federally administered health plans and prohibits state or private insurers from restricting abortion coverage in health insurance. It aims to eliminate current federal and state barriers that deny abortion access to people who rely on government health programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals Hyde Amendment requiring federal health programs to cover abortion services without restrictions, expanding access for Medicaid enrollees and low-income women.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 2064: Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act

This bill requires Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover tobacco cessation counseling and FDA-approved medications (including nonprescription options) with no out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. It directly affects low-income individuals using tobacco products who are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. Key mechanisms include a temporary 90% federal funding share for these services for five years, prohibitions on prior authorization for cessation drugs, and requirements for states to promote these services through outreach campaigns. The law also mandates states to monitor and increase awareness of these covered benefits among tobacco users and healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFederal 90% funding share for Medicaid/CHIP tobacco cessation services funds essential public health program without state cost, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/CHIP coverage of tobacco cessation services with no out-of-pocket costs, expands access to treatment, and provides federal funding for five years, directly advancing healthcare access for low-income tobacco users.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 2050: ASSIST Act

The ASSIST Act (S 2050) increases federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools and school-based health centers. It raises the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for these services to 90% for states, starting one year after enactment, while ensuring this doesn’t reduce existing federal payments or count against territorial spending limits. The bill also creates a new grant program administered by the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund entities like school districts and universities in hiring more licensed mental health providers, requiring culturally competent care and annual reporting on provider numbers and service effectiveness. It prohibits using grant funds for threat assessment teams and mandates a report to Congress on the program’s effectiveness within 18 months.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases federal funding for mental health services by raising FMAP to 90%, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunding school-based mental health services addresses root causes of criminal behavior, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases federal funding for school-based mental health services, directly enhancing student well-being and educational access within K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases federal funding for school-based mental health/substance use services via 90% FMAP and new grants, directly advancing mental health access as per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Testing & Assessment Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 4104: Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025

HR 4104 would expand access to Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage for immigrants lawfully present in the U.S., including those with deferred action or pending immigration applications. It removes state-level barriers to Medicaid/CHIP eligibility for lawfully present individuals, treats Federally authorized presence as "lawfully present" for ACA subsidies, and allows states to choose to cover undocumented individuals through Medicaid or CHIP. The bill also extends these changes to Medicare Part A and Part B, ensuring lawfully present immigrants qualify for coverage and subsidies under existing programs. These provisions apply to all federally funded health programs and take effect in 2026 for most ACA-related changes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid/CHIP/ACA coverage for lawfully present immigrants, removes state barriers, and allows broader access to health insurance under healthcare policy.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExpands Medicaid/CHIP/ACA access for lawfully present immigrants, removes state barriers, and allows coverage for undocumented individuals - directly advancing immigrant healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Medicare DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 17, 2025

S 3551: PROTECT for Rare Act

The PROTECT for Rare Act (S 3551) requires Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers to establish an expedited appeal process for coverage denials of drugs treating rare diseases or conditions affecting 200,000 or fewer U.S. individuals. It expands coverage criteria by allowing insurers to consider peer-reviewed medical literature and clinical guidelines - not just FDA-approved labeling - as valid justification for treatment, while excluding uses listed as contraindicated in approved drug labeling or medical references. The law applies to all covered drugs used for rare conditions and takes effect for coverage decisions starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects patients with rare diseases, healthcare providers seeking coverage approvals, and insurers managing drug benefit denials.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands coverage criteria for rare disease drugs by requiring expedited appeals and allowing clinical evidence beyond FDA labels, directly improving patient access to treatments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Prescription Drugs

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