Healthcare

This bill creates a new process to identify military veterans who served at specific Nevada test sites and other facilities linked to toxic exposure, removing the requirement for them to provide proof of contact with harmful substances. It officially classifies service in these areas as involving radiation risks and establishes a legal presumption that veterans who worked there are eligible for disability benefits related to certain diseases without needing to prove a direct link between their illness and the environment. To support these changes, the legislation mandates the creation of a registry to track affected service members and funds a scientific study to better understand the health impacts of toxic exposures at these locations.

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a public list of healthcare providers who have completed annual, evidence-based training on preventing veteran suicide. To qualify for this preferred provider list, providers must either finish VA-sponsored training or demonstrate completion of substantially similar external training that meets military healthcare standards. The VA must review this list annually to ensure compliance and submit regular reports to Congress detailing participation numbers and the effectiveness of the program in influencing veteran care choices.

The Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act aims to improve access to reproductive health services for individuals with disabilities by addressing barriers such as inaccessible facilities and a lack of provider training. The bill authorizes funding for several programs designed to train healthcare professionals on disability-inclusive care and to expand the workforce of doctors, nurses, and students with disabilities in reproductive health fields. Additionally, it establishes a National Technical Assistance Center to offer resources and best practices to healthcare providers and communities, while also funding research to better understand and eliminate systemic obstacles to care. These measures collectively seek to ensure that people with disabilities receive equitable, culturally competent, and accessible reproductive health services.

The Hormone Health Data and Research Act directs the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to study hormone levels in women before they enter perimenopause. Specifically, the bill requires an evaluation of existing evidence regarding how much these hormone levels vary and whether testing them early helps doctors diagnose or manage perimenopause. Within 18 months of passing, these agencies must submit a report to Congress summarizing their findings and suggesting areas for future research. This legislation primarily affects women experiencing perimenopause and the medical professionals who treat them by mandating a review of current scientific data.

The Patient Choice and Access Act of 2026 would allow health insurance plans starting in 2027 to operate without requiring a network of doctors and hospitals. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in qualified health plans by permitting them to see any provider that accepts the plan's payment rates, rather than being restricted to a specific list of in-network providers. To ensure consumers understand their coverage, the bill mandates that these plans clearly explain potential out-of-pocket costs and offer tools to help members find participating providers. Additionally, the legislation updates federal rules to prevent the government from penalizing plans that choose not to maintain a provider network.

The Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act establishes a 10-year demonstration program allowing Medicare beneficiaries to voluntarily use their benefits for health care services in selected foreign countries. This initiative targets individuals who are relocating abroad or living overseas to help them reunify with family while ensuring that the quality and cost of care in these nations meet specific American standards. The program covers premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs for services in at least 11 initial countries, including Canada, Germany, India, and Israel, with payments capped at the equivalent cost of similar services in the United States. To manage the program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will consult with various stakeholders, require participating physicians to undergo fraud training, and conduct annual evaluations to assess improvements in care quality and cost savings before considering any expansion.

The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 establishes a new framework for college athletics that grants student athletes the right to earn money from their name, image, and likeness without fear of losing scholarships or eligibility, while requiring institutions to disclose these deals in a public database. The bill strengthens protections for athletes by mandating better medical coverage, prohibiting coaches from influencing medical return-to-play decisions, and creating an independent ombudsman office to assist student athletes with grievances. It also introduces stricter rules on agent registration, limits on mid-season coaching transitions, and protections for athletes transferring schools or facing sexual misconduct. On the broadcasting side, the legislation creates a new entity to collectively sell media rights for college sports, ensuring that revenue is distributed fairly and that local fans can access games without paying extra fees. The law further restricts large conference mergers to preserve competition and requires that non-revenue sports like women's and Olympic programs maintain their current roster sizes and scholarship opportunities. Finally, the act sets up a congressional commission to study the future of college athletics and make recommendations on structural changes, including potential adjustments to revenue sharing caps.

This bill requires states to report annually to the federal government on waste, fraud, and abuse detected in home and community-based services funded by Medicaid. Starting in 2026, state agencies must submit details on any such issues they find, along with descriptions of the steps they have taken to prevent them. The law directly affects state Medicaid programs that provide care in community settings rather than institutions. By mandating these reports, the legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in how these services are managed.

This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program by an additional five years, allowing rural hospitals to continue receiving Medicare payment adjustments designed to help them compete with larger health systems. The legislation amends existing federal laws to change the program's timeline from a 15-year extension to a 20-year extension, ensuring these financial incentives remain in place for a longer period. It also includes specific rules for hospitals that joined the program later, ensuring they receive the same extended benefits during the final years of the new timeframe. The primary effect is to maintain current funding mechanisms for participating rural hospitals without altering the core rules of the demonstration.

The AGE Act of 2026 creates a new tax credit to help taxpayers cover the costs of caring for elderly relatives who are at least 65 years old and need assistance with daily living. This credit allows individuals to claim up to $6,000 per year for expenses such as medical care, adult day services, personal care, respite care, and home modifications, provided the care recipient is a parent, grandparent, or other household member. The amount of the credit decreases by one percentage point for every $4,000 that a taxpayer's income exceeds $120,000, and the benefit is reduced if the taxpayer already uses a dependent care assistance program. To qualify, taxpayers must report the names, addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers of both the care providers and the elderly individuals they are supporting on their tax returns.