Healthcare (Medicaid)

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 This bill provides FY2027 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration, the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and Departmental Management. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the Office of the Secretary. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education; the Office of Federal Student Aid; the Office of Postsecondary Education; the Institute of Education Sciences; and Departmental Management. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the National Council on Disability, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

The HCBS Access Act requires Medicaid to cover a broad range of home and community-based services for people with disabilities and older adults, aiming to eliminate waiting lists and ensure these individuals can live in their communities rather than institutions. To achieve this, the bill mandates that states create detailed implementation plans, establishes a new advisory panel to recommend additional services, and sets a 100 percent federal funding match for these services to encourage state participation. The legislation also strengthens protections for family caregivers, requires states to remove financial liens on the estates of deceased beneficiaries, and creates a national technical assistance center to support the recruitment and training of direct care workers. Additionally, the bill directs the government to establish a separate occupational category for direct support professionals to better track workforce shortages and improve data collection on this critical labor force.

The Medicaid Equal Standards Act requires states to implement a resource limit for individuals eligible under the Medicaid expansion, effective January 1, 2029. Under this bill, an individual would lose eligibility if their countable assets exceed $10,000, or $20,000 for married couples, with the limit adjusted every four years based on inflation. States retain some flexibility to set lower limits or include certain assets that are normally excluded from the calculation. The law also ensures that states remain eligible for federal funding even if they deny coverage to people who exceed these asset thresholds.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific federal rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the Affordable Care Act and the Basic Health Program for 2027. If passed, the measure would legally nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect. The bill directly impacts the administration of healthcare benefits and payment parameters for the upcoming year by rejecting the proposed guidelines.

The Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act of 2026 establishes a new Office of Cancer Survivorship within the National Cancer Institute to coordinate research and education focused on the long-term health needs of the approximately 18 million Americans living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. The bill mandates that Medicare and Medicaid cover specific services, including the creation of personalized care plans at key transition points and fertility preservation treatments for survivors facing treatment-related infertility. Additionally, the legislation creates a grant program to support cancer survivors and their families with employment assistance and establishes a new payment model designed to improve the quality and coordination of long-term survivorship care.

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, titled the Medicaid Financing Clarification Act of 2026, aims to clarify federal rules regarding how states and local governments can fund their Medicaid programs. It directly affects state and local officials by explicitly defining "public funds" to include various local revenue sources such as taxes, fees, and tobacco settlement money. The legislation amends the Social Security Act to ensure that money held by local entities like counties or cities counts as eligible public funding for Medicaid matching purposes. Additionally, it provides clear definitions for terms like "political subdivision" and "public agency" to remove ambiguity in existing laws. By updating these definitions, the bill seeks to establish a clearer legal framework for how local governments contribute to Medicaid financing.

The IMPACT to Save Moms Act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to run a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031, allowing states to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a specific focus on reducing disparities among groups that experience higher rates of maternal mortality and severe complications. To achieve these goals, the project requires states to consider alternative payment structures that account for pregnancy risk levels, include diverse care teams with training on bias, and address social factors affecting health. The bill also mandates that the federal government evaluate the project's impact on health outcomes and spending, and submit a final report to Congress with recommendations on whether to expand the program nationwide.

The PREEMPT Act directs the federal government to issue guidance and provide technical assistance to states regarding Medicaid coverage for preeclampsia screening and detection tests. This legislation aims to improve outcomes for pregnant women by promoting early detection and management of the condition, which is a leading cause of maternal and fetal deaths. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to outline best practices and determine which advanced biomarker tests can be covered under state Medicaid plans. The bill does not mandate that states cover these tests but instead establishes a framework for federal support to help states evaluate and implement such coverage.

This bill requires Medicaid to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without charging patients any copayments or deductibles. It defines these exams based on national medical guidelines, covering tests like mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds for both evaluating abnormalities and screening high-risk individuals. Additionally, the legislation mandates that screening mammography graded as effective by the USPSTF must be included as a required benefit for all Medicaid beneficiaries. These changes will take effect one year after the bill is signed into law.