Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Apr 27, 2026

HR 8199: SCHEDULES Act of 2026

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to set a standard for how quickly veterans receive appointments after being referred for care, whether at VA facilities or through community providers. The VA Secretary must publish this standard in the Federal Register and report to Congress quarterly on how many referrals meet the timing requirement, broken down by service type and medical center performance. Each report must also include a ranking of VA medical centers from best to worst in meeting the standard, with data available to the public on a VA website. The VA must update the standard as scheduling processes change and include annual progress reports on steps taken to improve care timeliness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access by requiring VA to set appointment timing standards and report performance, strengthening healthcare delivery for veterans.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates VA to set appointment wait time standards and report performance, improving veterans' healthcare access and accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates VA review of opioid overdose deaths to improve veteran healthcare safety and prevent future fatalities, directly supporting patient protection and health outcomes.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA review of veteran opioid overdose deaths to improve healthcare safety through data-driven recommendations95% confidence

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

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in committee · United States · House Apr 15, 2026

HR 8043: Vets CLEAR Act

The Vets CLEAR Act allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to deposit certain recovered funds into the Medical Care Collections Fund at the Secretary's discretion, with this authority set to expire on September 30, 2028. The bill expands the types of recoveries that can be deposited, including amounts collected through administrative, legal, or judicial processes related to medical care, services, or medication provided under VA programs. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to submit regular reports to Congress detailing the total amounts recovered and how the VA spent those funds, with reports due every 180 days during the authority's effective period. This legislation directly affects VA financial management and oversight by creating new flexibility in fund allocation while increasing transparency through mandated reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands recovered funds for VA medical care, strengthening healthcare funding for veterans through the Medical Care Collections Fund.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands VA's ability to recover and deposit funds into the Medical Care Collections Fund, strengthening financial resources for veteran healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 19, 2026

HR 8018: ISLET Act

The ISLET Act amends federal regulations to allow the use of human cadaveric islets for transplantation without classifying them as drugs or biological products. This change directly affects patients with diabetes who may receive islet cell transplants and the healthcare providers who administer these procedures. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update existing regulations within one year and submit a progress report to Congress within six months. By removing islets from drug and biological product categories, the legislation aims to streamline regulatory oversight for this specific type of medical treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes regulatory barriers to islet cell transplants, improving patient access to diabetes treatments and strengthening healthcare options.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Mar 30, 2026

HR 8164: Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026

This bill requires health insurance plans, including those for federal employees and federal health programs, to allow custodial parents to manage medical claims for children covered under a noncustodial parent's policy. Under the new rules, insurance companies must provide necessary information to custodial parents and permit them to submit and receive payments for covered medical services without needing approval from the noncustodial parent. These changes apply to plans and programs starting on or after January 1, 2026, and are designed to simplify the process for divorced or separated parents managing children's healthcare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to healthcare by allowing custodial parents to manage children's medical claims without noncustodial parent approval, removing barriers to care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance

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in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8156: National Parent and Youth Helpline Act

This bill creates a National Parent and Youth Helpline by authorizing federal grants to a nonprofit organization to establish a toll-free service offering emotional support, guidance, and resources to parents, caregivers, and youth across the United States. The helpline would provide assistance through phone calls, text messages, and live chats for issues such as emotional distress, substance abuse, peer relationships, and educational concerns, while also maintaining a website with relevant information and distributing outreach materials nationwide. The legislation authorizes up to $20 million annually from 2027 through 2032 to fund the program for a maximum of five years, with priority given to organizations experienced in operating national helplines and running evidence-based support groups. The grant recipient would be required to submit regular performance reports to the Secretary and a final report to Congress within three years of enactment detailing the program's implementation and effectiveness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a national helpline providing emotional support and resources for mental health issues, substance abuse, and youth concerns, directly supporting mental health services and public health initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 4197: Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act

The Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act establishes a grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to help state veterans agencies expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs. These grants, with a minimum of $200,000 per state, can be used to develop outdoor activities, partner with local providers, reduce costs for veterans, and coordinate with federal land management agencies. States must submit applications outlining their plans and report annually on participation numbers, veteran demographics, and observed well-being outcomes. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually in funding to support these initiatives aimed at improving physical and mental health through nature-based activities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds outdoor rehabilitation programs for veterans, addressing mental health and wellness through recreation, which supports healthcare access and services.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes grant program to fund outdoor rehabilitation programs for veterans, expanding access to structured recreation activities and reducing costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8145: Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act

This bill expands the scope of federal programs supporting rural areas to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, workforce development, and job training alongside existing telemedicine and distance learning services. It amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to update the section heading and modify multiple subsections to explicitly incorporate these new categories of assistance. The changes apply to programs that provide technical support and educational resources to rural communities, with an effective date set for six months after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands federal programs to include digital literacy and distance learning support for rural areas, enhancing educational access and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands telemedicine access and digital literacy in rural areas, improving healthcare service delivery and patient access to medical professionals.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workforce development and job training programs, directly supporting labor and employment by enhancing worker skills and employment opportunities.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly expands federal programs to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, and workforce development, directly advancing technology access and digital equity in rural areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Workforce Development Broadband Access Cybersecurity Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Feb 9, 2026

HR 7444: Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

This bill expands Medicare telehealth access for rural and underserved communities by removing geographic restrictions on where telehealth services can originate and allowing more services to be provided from patients' homes. It enables critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics to receive full reimbursement for telehealth services and permits audio-only technology for certain appointments starting in 2027. The legislation also establishes permanent payment rates for telehealth services provided by these facilities and requires a review of audio-only technology use within five years to assess its impact on access and clinical appropriateness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare telehealth access, removes geographic restrictions, increases reimbursement for rural facilities, and improves patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands telehealth access and removes geographic restrictions, promoting digital equity and technology adoption in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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passed both · United States · House Sep 28, 2026

HR 8205: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes and expands the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act through 2031, extending funding for research into treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It requires drug manufacturers to share interim clinical trial data with the FDA to better assess the progress of investigational drugs and clarifies that phase 3 clinical trial definitions include combined phase 2/3 trials and planned trials not yet enrolling participants. The legislation also mandates the FDA to publish an updated five-year action plan for ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases, including resource needs and coordination strategies with broader disease communities. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report on the program's implementation four years after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands funding for ALS research, requires data sharing to accelerate drug development, and clarifies clinical trial definitions to improve patient access to critical therapies.95% confidence

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