Healthcare

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4229: SCHEDULES Act of 2026

The SCHEDULES Act of 2026 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to set a standard for how quickly veterans receive appointments after being referred for care, whether at a VA facility or through community providers. The VA must publish this standard in the Federal Register and on its website at least 30 days before implementing or changing it. The bill mandates quarterly reports to Congress detailing how many referrals meet the standard, broken down by care type and facility, along with an annual ranking of medical centers from best to worst in meeting the timing requirement. These reports must also include data on steps taken to improve care timeliness and estimates for full compliance. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in scheduling appointments for veterans receiving care through the VA system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to healthcare by establishing appointment wait time standards for veterans, enhancing care efficiency and responsiveness.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill improves veteran healthcare access by establishing appointment wait time standards and requiring transparency through reporting.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 4220: Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act

This bill establishes a new Office of Novel Therapeutics within the Veterans Health Administration to prepare for the implementation of emerging mental health treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted therapies, that are currently under FDA review. The office will develop national clinical standards, create training programs for staff, and designate specific medical centers as centers of excellence to lead research and implementation efforts. It also requires the VA to submit an annual report to Congress on research activities, clinical outcomes, and workforce readiness, while coordinating with other federal agencies on regulatory and reimbursement issues. The legislation focuses on ensuring patient safety, maintaining evidence-based practices, and providing integrated care for veterans with conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes new office within VA to advance mental health treatments, develop clinical standards, create training programs, and designate centers of excellence for emerging therapies.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes new office within VA to develop mental health treatments and training, directly improving veteran healthcare access and services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 7, 2026

S 4189: INSULIN Act of 2026

The INSULIN Act of 2026 requires health insurance plans to limit insulin copayments to $35 per 30-day supply starting in 2027, with plans choosing to cap costs at 25% of the negotiated price after 2028. The bill also mandates that pharmacy benefit managers pass all rebates and discounts related to insulin directly to health plans rather than retaining them. Additional provisions include measures to speed up the approval process for generic and biosimilar insulin products, establish a pilot program to provide affordable insulin to uninsured individuals in 10 states, and create a resource center and hotline to help uninsured people access assistance programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill limits insulin copayments and mandates rebate passthrough, improving patient access to essential medication.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 4210: Child Suicide Prevention Act

This bill creates two grant programs to help prevent suicide among individuals under 26 years old by funding health care and education initiatives. The first program provides up to $20 million to states, health departments, hospitals, and other organizations to train health care providers on identifying suicide risks, discussing firearm safety, and connecting at-risk individuals with support services. The second program allocates $10 million to medical and nursing schools to develop curricula on suicide prevention and safe firearm storage for health care professionals. Additionally, the bill authorizes the use of up to 15 percent of the first grant's funds to distribute secure gun storage devices at reduced or no cost to households with youth, along with counseling on their use. The Department of Health and Human Services will maintain an informational website and submit annual reports to Congress on the programs' progress through fiscal year 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $30M in federal funding for suicide prevention programs, directly advancing budget allocation for public health services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $10M to medical and nursing schools for suicide prevention curriculum development, directly funding education initiatives.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $30M in grants to fund healthcare training, suicide prevention programs, and medical education initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Sep 24, 2026

HR 8052: Veteran Infection Prevention Act

The Veteran Infection Prevention Act requires sterile processing technicians in the Veterans Health Administration to obtain certification from an accredited training institution within two years of their appointment, with some exceptions for entry-level positions. Current employees who are not yet certified will have two years from the bill's enactment to become certified, and those who choose to pursue certification will receive a scholarship to help cover training costs. In exchange for the scholarship, recipients must commit to two years of service with the Veterans Health Administration after receiving their certification. This legislation aims to improve infection prevention standards by ensuring all sterile processing technicians meet professional certification requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates certification for sterile processing technicians in VA healthcare, improving patient safety and professional standards in healthcare delivery.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates certification for sterile processing technicians in Veterans Health Administration, improving healthcare standards and providing scholarships for training, directly strengthening veteran healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2026

HR 7777: Protecting America’s Medical Supply Chains Act of 2026

This bill strengthens the Defense Production Act to prioritize securing medical supplies like drugs, devices, and biological products that are essential for national defense. It requires the President to develop and submit a strategy within 180 days that outlines how to diversify supply chains, reduce foreign dependency, and protect the U.S. medical supply system. The legislation also authorizes funding for domestic companies that produce critical components or materials needed to secure these supply chains. Additionally, the President must provide annual progress reports to Congress on the implementation of these measures until September 2029.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens medical supply chains and protects essential healthcare products, ensuring availability of critical medical supplies for national defense and public health.85% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8084: Access to LARCs Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on access to multiple contraceptive methods at community health centers located in health care deserts. The study will examine barriers such as reimbursement, inventory stocking, provider training, and patient education, and will identify which centers receive funding under the Public Health Service Act. Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress detailing the study findings. The bill defines key terms including "women in need," "health care desert," and "range of contraceptive methods" to ensure clarity in the study's scope.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs HHS to study contraceptive access barriers at community health centers, aiming to improve patient access to healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 9, 2026

HR 7879: SUPER BUGS Act of 2026

This bill directs the Secretary of State to create a strategy for international cooperation on developing medical products to fight infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The plan would involve foreign governments, global organizations, and private companies to share resources and expertise for creating vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. It aims to strengthen public health systems in partner countries to prevent outbreaks from spreading to the United States. The strategy must be submitted to Congress within 18 months and must ensure fair contributions from participating nations based on their budgets and technical capabilities. The bill focuses on aligning these efforts with existing U.S. pandemic preparedness plans and avoiding duplication of work.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes international cooperation to develop medical products, vaccines, and treatments to strengthen public health systems and prevent disease spread.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 8083: Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act

This bill would allow certain oral contraceptive drugs to be sold over-the-counter to adults aged 18 and older by requiring the FDA to prioritize their review and waive associated application fees. It specifically excludes emergency contraceptives and drugs also approved for induced abortion from these provisions. The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to study how federal programs fund contraception over the past 15 years, covering Medicare, Medicaid, and other health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to contraception by allowing OTC sales for adults 18+, improving patient access to healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Women's Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 19, 2026

HR 8024: Maternal Vaccination Act

The Maternal Vaccination Act directs federal funding to expand a public health campaign focused on increasing vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children. It modifies existing laws to include these groups in awareness efforts and specifically targets racial and ethnic minority communities to address equity gaps. The bill also adjusts the funding timeline and amount for the campaign, increasing the annual allocation from $15 million to $17 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. These changes aim to improve maternal and child health outcomes by ensuring broader access to vaccination information and resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases federal funding from $15M to $17M for maternal vaccination campaign, directly advancing public health budget allocation92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases funding from $15M to $17M for maternal vaccination campaign and expands public health awareness for pregnant/postpartum individuals and minority communities.90% confidence

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

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