The Doctors Not AI Act of 2026 prohibits health insurance plans from using artificial intelligence systems to issue or dictate adverse benefit determinations that involve clinical judgment, such as decisions based on medical necessity or treatment appropriateness. Instead, these determinations must be made by a licensed healthcare professional who conducts an independent evaluation of the patient's specific medical circumstances without deferring to AI outputs. The bill requires insurers to disclose in written notices if any AI system was used during the review process and mandates that detailed documentation regarding the AI's role and outputs be maintained as part of the administrative record, available to patients upon request. Additionally, the legislation classifies the use of AI in utilization review as a treatment limitation for parity purposes, ensuring it is evaluated equally across mental health and medical-surgical benefits under existing federal laws.
The PROTECT Act directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a new initiative aimed at reducing e-cigarette and tobacco use among youth and young adults. The bill authorizes $100 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to fund research on product usage patterns, health impacts, and cessation behaviors, as well as the development of guidance for healthcare providers and schools. Additionally, it requires the creation of public education campaigns and continued funding for state and local health departments to improve access to quit services.
The GREEN Hospitals Act authorizes $100 billion in Hill-Burton grants for hospitals and other medical facilities to upgrade their infrastructure for climate resilience and emissions reduction. It also establishes a separate $5 billion Planning and Evaluation Grant Program that provides up to $500,000 per project to help states, tribes, and nonprofits develop sustainability plans before construction begins. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate labor protections, including collective bargaining agreements or non-interference policies, and certify they do not impose training repayment debts on employees. The bill prioritizes projects in environmental justice communities and those serving high numbers of Medicare and Medicaid patients, requiring that at least half of the planning grant funds be directed to these areas.
The Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act of 2026 would prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy meals at restaurants and other private food service establishments. The bill achieves this by removing specific legal provisions from the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 that currently allow states to run optional restaurant programs for eligible groups such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals. If enacted, these changes would take effect 180 days after the date of enactment, directly affecting SNAP recipients who rely on these state-level options for dining out.
This bill amends Medicare to cover dental and oral health services for the first time, affecting all current and future Medicare beneficiaries. It defines covered services to include routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, dentures, and emergency care. For most individuals, federal payment for these services will gradually increase from 0% to 80% over an eight-year period, while low-income individuals eligible for prescription drug subsidies will receive 80% coverage immediately. The legislation also establishes frequency limits, such as two cleanings and exams per year and a five-year limit on full dentures, and requires the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to include at least one oral health professional.
The Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act expands Medicaid coverage for services provided by rural emergency hospitals and allows these facilities to offer additional inpatient units for psychiatric, rehabilitation, and obstetric care. It also creates a pathway for existing facilities that operate similarly to rural emergency hospitals to convert their status by waiving certain requirements, while permitting them to provide skilled nursing "swing bed" services under specific agreements.
To support financial sustainability, the bill increases Medicare payments for diagnostic laboratory tests performed at these hospitals by 5 percent starting in 2027 and ensures that facilities reverting to critical access hospital status can regain their necessary provider designation. Additionally, the legislation designates rural emergency hospitals as health professional shortage areas to facilitate National Health Service Corps placements and includes them in the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program grant eligibility.
The 9-8-8 Community Infrastructure Act authorizes $1 billion in grants for capital projects at health centers and crisis response facilities. Eligible recipients include federally funded health centers, tribal organizations, and specialized non-hospital facilities that provide 24/7 mental health and substance use crisis services. Funds may be used for construction, renovation, expansion, or loan repayment to improve these infrastructure sites. The bill specifically defines eligible crisis facilities as those offering stabilization beds, sliding-scale payment options, and no-wrong-door admission without rejecting patients based on ability to pay or other factors.
The Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to require that local economic development plans include strategies for increasing access to affordable, quality care-based services. These services specifically include child care, early childhood education, disability and long-term care, and elder care. The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue implementation guidance within one year of enactment to help grant recipients integrate these requirements into their existing plans. To minimize administrative burden, communities with previously approved development strategies are only required to update their plans for compliance during their next regularly scheduled revision cycle.
The Fair Prescription Pricing Act of 2026 would cap the out-of-pocket costs that individuals pay for prescription drugs by limiting deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance to no more than the nationwide average consumer price for that specific medication. This provision applies to both group health plans and individual health insurance policies, ensuring that patients using in-network pharmacies do not face charges higher than the standard market rate. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to adhere to these same cost-sharing limits as the insurance providers themselves. These restrictions would be implemented across federal laws governing public health services, employee retirement income security, and internal revenue codes to ensure consistent enforcement for plan years beginning after the act's enactment.
The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026 amends the Foreign Assistance Act to designate ending the global tuberculosis emergency as a major objective of U.S. foreign policy and authorizes the President to provide funding for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs worldwide. The bill sets specific targets to be achieved by 2030, including an 80 percent reduction in new infections and a 90 percent reduction in deaths compared to 2015 levels, while also requiring that 30 million individuals receive preventive treatment. Key provisions mandate the use of innovative diagnostic tools, support for drug-resistant TB care, and coordination with private sector partners to develop vaccines and lower treatment costs. The legislation requires annual reports to Congress detailing program progress and expenditures, and it includes a sunset clause that terminates these specific authorities on January 1, 2033.
