Healthcare (Medicaid)

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 22, 2026

S 5070: MAIL Act

The MAIL Act allows unhoused or housing-unstable individuals with low incomes who receive specific federal assistance to rent free post office boxes. To qualify, eligible people must submit proof of their status, such as enrollment in Medicaid or participation in food assistance programs, to their local postmaster. The law requires the United States Postal Service to issue regulations for this program within a year and authorizes the agency to buy and maintain the necessary boxes. To cover the cost of lost rental fees and the expense of providing these boxes, the bill directs Congress to appropriate funds to the Postal Service annually. The Postmaster General must also submit an implementation plan within six months and provide progress reports every five years to Congress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires proof of Medicaid enrollment for free PO boxes, facilitating access to healthcare services for unhoused individuals.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides free postal boxes to unhoused individuals, directly addressing homelessness and housing instability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Homelessness Renters

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9831: Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026

The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 mandates that Medicaid programs cover a range of dental and oral health services for adults starting in 2027, including dentures, implants, and treatments for pain and emergencies. To help states afford this expansion, the bill provides 100 percent federal funding for these specific services for a 12-quarter period beginning in 2027, while allowing states the option to add extra dental benefits if they choose. In addition to expanding coverage, the legislation requires the federal government to develop standardized quality measures to track adult oral health outcomes and report on disparities based on race, ethnicity, and other demographics. The bill also directs the creation of an outreach program to help eligible adults find care and establishes a timeline for a comprehensive report on access barriers and reimbursement issues.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates Medicaid dental coverage for adults and provides full federal funding, expanding access and strengthening health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9846: Childhood Disability Benefits Fairness Act

The Childhood Disability Benefits Fairness Act changes how Medicaid eligibility is determined for children who receive Social Security child's insurance benefits. Under current rules, these children might be denied Medicaid because their Social Security payments count as income, even though the payments are meant to replace lost wages due to a parent's disability. This bill ensures that children in this situation are treated as if they are receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits instead, which allows them to qualify for Medicaid regardless of their Social Security income. The change applies to all new eligibility decisions made after the law is passed, aiming to provide consistent access to healthcare coverage for disabled children with low family incomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid eligibility for children with disabilities by excluding Social Security benefits from income calculations, thereby strengthening healthcare access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Tags Children People with Disabilities

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9844: CHARTS Act

The CHARTS Act authorizes $5 million over two years to provide grants to long-term care and post-acute care providers, such as nursing facilities and home health agencies, for implementing specific health information technology systems. These funds, capped at $500,000 per provider, must be used to develop tools that enable real-time data sharing among doctors, insurers, and government programs while improving care coordination and reducing duplicate services. The Department of Health and Human Services will prioritize grants for facilities serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and will ensure recipients represent a diverse range of geographic and demographic populations. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to submit reports evaluating how these technologies impact patient outcomes, costs, and care transitions over a six-year period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $5M to fund health IT systems for long-term care providers, improving care coordination and reducing duplicate services.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds health information technology systems to improve data sharing and care coordination.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9891: PREVENT ESRD Act

The PREVENT ESRD Act establishes a ten-year demonstration program to help prevent kidney disease from progressing to end-stage renal disease, which places a heavy financial burden on Medicare. Starting in 2027, the program invites private health plans, Medicaid programs, and other insurers to voluntarily join an initiative where they must cover specific kidney care services, such as screenings, medications, and nutrition support, with little to no cost to patients. Participating plans can earn shared savings payments from Medicare if they successfully reduce the rate of kidney disease progression compared to a benchmark based on their historical data, provided they maintain high quality of care and do not avoid enrolling high-risk patients. The legislation also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to hold listening sessions and gather public input to refine the program's scope and ensure it meets the needs of patients and providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates coverage for kidney disease prevention services, expanding access and reducing patient costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2026

HR 9816: MOMMIES Act

The MOMMIES Act expands Medicaid and CHIP coverage for low-income pregnant and postpartum individuals by extending continuous benefits for one year after childbirth and mandating full coverage of oral health services. To support these changes, the bill includes maintenance of effort provisions that prevent states from restricting eligibility or reducing benefits for this population, alongside a temporary 100 percent federal funding match for states that increase spending on these services. Additionally, the legislation establishes a five-year demonstration project to fund maternity care home models that integrate medical and social support services, while also requiring studies and guidance on improving access to doula services and telehealth for maternity care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid/CHIP coverage, extends postpartum benefits, mandates oral health coverage, and provides full federal funding.95% confidence

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

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9712: Mamas First Act

The Mamas First Act aims to reduce maternal mortality rates by expanding Medicaid coverage to include support services from doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation providers. This legislation modifies the Social Security Act to allow these professionals to bill Medicaid for prenatal, labor, and postpartum care delivered in various settings, including homes, hospitals, and clinics. To qualify for reimbursement, doulas must hold a certification requiring continuing education and gather specific client or provider recommendations, while midwives and lactation support providers must meet defined state or international standards. The bill also prohibits Medicaid programs from charging copayments or deductibles for these essential services, with the changes taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation services, directly strengthening healthcare access and funding for maternal care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 20, 2026

S 5034: Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act of 2026

The Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act of 2026 requires Medicare Advantage plans to submit detailed data on supplemental benefits to the federal government starting in 2029. This information will include specific details about what benefits are offered, eligibility rules, and how much each enrollee spends on these services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will then make this de-identified data available to the public and researchers for analysis after a two-year delay. To support the implementation of these reporting requirements, the bill appropriates $12 million for fiscal year 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency of Medicare Advantage benefits, improving patient access to information and enabling better analysis of healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 14, 2026

S 4963: Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026

The Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 changes how Medicare calculates payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers starting in 2027. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use the same annual price increase factors applied to other outpatient services, rather than a separate calculation. Additionally, the bill removes a specific rule that previously limited these payment updates to keep total spending flat, allowing for more consistent price adjustments. These changes directly affect hospitals and clinics that perform surgeries on an outpatient basis and the patients who receive those services under Medicare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to surgery by aligning payment updates and removing spending caps.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 9759: 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 for the years 2027 through 2030. Key provisions include expanding Medicaid coverage for mental health and behavioral health services, removing insurance barriers to medication-assisted treatment, and limiting cost-sharing requirements for opioid overdose reversal medications. The bill also establishes new grant programs to support recovery housing, train first responders, and assist law enforcement with mental health and wellness initiatives. Additionally, it targets funding toward states with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths and extends existing waivers to improve Medicaid delivery systems in those areas.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds substance use disorder treatment and removes barriers to medication-assisted treatment, addressing root causes of crime and supporting rehabilitation.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, expands Medicaid coverage, and removes insurance barriers to essential medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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