Healthcare (Hospitals) in United States

in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HRES 1287: Recognizing stroke as a national health crisis requiring immediate, coordinated Federal action, and for other purposes.

This resolution declares stroke a national health crisis and calls for immediate, coordinated federal action to improve care. It highlights that while a specific treatment called mechanical thrombectomy is highly effective, very few eligible patients currently receive it due to delays in emergency response and hospital routing. The bill urges the creation of standardized training for emergency medical services to better recognize strokes and directs ambulances to transport patients directly to hospitals equipped for this treatment. Additionally, it encourages public education campaigns to help people recognize stroke symptoms and calls for greater transparency regarding which hospitals can perform the necessary procedures.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · United States · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4482: WELLS Act

The WELLS Act requires hospitals, including those in rural areas, to create detailed discharge plans for pregnant patients who are expected to leave before giving birth, ensuring these plans include travel assessments and backup care options. This requirement takes effect on January 1, 2027, and mandates that hospitals discuss these plans with patients or their representatives in a language they understand. Additionally, the bill establishes a new funding program for rural training grants that must meet specific performance milestones regarding staff education and requires annual public reporting on training methods and patient outcomes. The legislation also creates a multi-center research initiative to evaluate different training models for healthcare professionals and develops a public dashboard to track maternal health metrics across federal agencies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

in committee · United States · Senate May 13, 2026

S 4507: Bereaved Parents Rights Act

The Bereaved Parents Rights Act requires hospitals and birth centers to inform parents of stillborn fetuses or miscarriages about their options for burial, cremation, or hospital disposal. This notification must occur within six hours of the event or the parent's discharge, using a standardized form provided by the federal government. If a parent chooses to arrange burial or cremation within 72 hours, the facility must follow the state's existing rules for handling fetal deaths. The law also allows parents to file a civil lawsuit in federal court if a hospital fails to comply with these notification and disposition requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · United States · House Apr 14, 2026

HR 8271: ICU Bed Act of 2026

The ICU Bed Act of 2026 mandates that hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare report their intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time. To achieve this, these facilities must participate in shared regional data systems and develop shared strategies for efficiently transferring patients when any hospital approaches ICU capacity. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish these regions based on factors like geography, population, and travel time between facilities. Additionally, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include efficient patient transfer activities in state and regional hospital preparedness efforts, extending funding for these activities through fiscal year 2031.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Public Health

in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8091: Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026

This bill, the Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026, changes how Medicare calculates payment updates for surgeries performed at outpatient surgical centers. Starting in 2027, these centers will receive annual payment increases that match the updates given to other outpatient hospital services, rather than using a separate calculation method. The legislation also removes a specific budget neutrality adjustment that previously limited payment increases for these facilities and ensures that spending data from the new payment system is included in future budget calculations. These changes directly affect Medicare reimbursement rates for outpatient surgical procedures without altering the underlying services provided.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 8109: Save Struggling Hospitals Act

The Save Struggling Hospitals Act adjusts Medicare reimbursement rates for hospitals in low-wage areas to help them remain financially viable. It directly affects hospitals located in regions where the average hospital wages fall below the 25th percentile nationally. The bill increases the area wage index for these struggling hospitals by half the difference between their current index and the 25th percentile threshold, starting with discharges on or after October 1, 2019. These adjustments are designed to be budget neutral, meaning the increased payments to low-wage hospitals are offset by reductions elsewhere without decreasing payments to hospitals in the top 75th percentile or reducing any hospital's payment by more than 5 percent from the previous year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4217: Copay Fairness for Veterans Act of 2026

The Copay Fairness for Veterans Act of 2026 would eliminate copayments for preventive health services received by veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes medications, hospital care, walk-in care, and services for survivors and dependents, as well as immunizations, screenings, and contraceptive services. The bill defines preventive services based on recommendations from established medical organizations and guidelines, ensuring coverage for evidence-based care. Changes would take effect 180 days after the law is enacted.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Hospitals Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Nov 4, 2025

HR 5919: Veterans HOPE Act

HR 5919, the Veterans HOPE Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of veteran deaths from opioid overdoses occurring between 2010 and 2016. The review must analyze demographic data (age, sex, race), medication histories (including black box warnings), prescribing patterns, combat trauma, and VA facility trends. Within 18 months of enactment, the VA must submit a public report to Congress detailing findings and recommendations to improve veteran safety and reduce opioid overdose rates. This procedural bill focuses on data collection and analysis, not new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Hospitals Substance Abuse Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 4204: Rural Health Innovation Act of 2026

This bill creates two new grant programs to support health services in rural areas. The first program provides funding to rural health centers and clinics to establish or maintain facilities that offer urgent care, triage services, and emergency transport coordination, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 over five years. The second program offers annual grants of up to $500,000 to local rural health departments to enhance their ability to provide emergency services, primary care, and other medical support at existing facilities. Both programs require entities to submit detailed applications and prioritize existing health centers, while authorizing $25 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for these initiatives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Primary Care Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4233: Save Struggling Hospitals Act

This bill, known as the Save Struggling Hospitals Act, modifies Medicare reimbursement rules to provide additional financial support to hospitals in low-wage areas. It directly affects hospitals whose geographic area wage index falls below the 25th percentile, increasing their reimbursement rates by half the difference between their current index and the 25th percentile threshold. The adjustment applies to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2019, and is designed to be budget neutral, meaning the total amount paid out remains unchanged while redistributing funds from higher-wage to lower-wage areas. The law also includes safeguards to prevent hospitals in the 75th percentile or higher from losing funding and ensures no hospital's reimbursement drops below 95 percent of the previous year's rate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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