The Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2026 requires group health plans and insurance coverage to treat the cost-sharing for oral cancer medications no less favorably than that for intravenously administered cancer drugs. This rule applies to FDA-approved oral cancer treatments that a treating physician deems medically necessary and clinically appropriate, ensuring that deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance rates are not higher for oral options. The legislation also prohibits plans from making changes that would increase out-of-pocket costs or impose stricter limitations on oral cancer drugs compared to injected ones, while still allowing for standard utilization controls like prior authorization. Additionally, the bill mandates a Government Accountability Office study within two years to assess the impact of these changes on patient costs and access.
The POPCaP Act of 2026 establishes a precision oncology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically for veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer. To deliver this care, the bill designates 21 existing VA medical centers across the country as provisional centers of excellence, requiring each to perform genetic sequencing, participate in clinical trials, and maintain specific staffing levels including oncologists and researchers. These centers will operate under a centralized leadership team that coordinates research activities, manages a national data registry, and ensures veterans have access to the latest biomarker-specific treatments. The legislation authorizes $15.5 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund the program and mandates annual reports to Congress detailing patient outcomes and research progress.
The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 requires nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities to allow two chosen family members or friends to visit residents during times when regular visitation is suspended. These essential caregivers must agree to follow the facility's existing safety and infection control rules, which are no more restrictive than those applied to staff. While facilities can limit access for the first seven days of a suspension or deny entry if a caregiver shows symptoms of a serious infectious disease, they cannot block visits for end-of-life care. Additionally, the bill mandates that complaints about denied access to essential caregivers be investigated and resolved within three days.
HR 7651, the Chloe Cole Act of 2026, prohibits healthcare providers from performing certain medical interventions on minors under 18 aimed at altering physical development to align with gender identity. These "covered interventions" include puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and specific surgeries, but exclude medically necessary care for conditions like disorders of sexual development or traumatic injuries. The bill creates a federal civil lawsuit right for affected minors or their parents against providers who perform such interventions, allowing claims for damages including emotional distress and punitive awards, with strict liability for providers after the law's enactment. It explicitly allows exceptions for legitimate medical treatments and requires providers to prove such exceptions apply if challenged.
This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
HR 3100 amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to expand background check requirements. It allows businesses and organizations working with vulnerable populations (like children or elderly individuals) to request background checks for their contractors and for people they license or certify to provide care. The bill modifies the law to include individuals "contracted with" or "licensed/certified by" these organizations as those requiring background checks. This change directly affects organizations serving vulnerable groups, their contractors, and licensed care providers by broadening the scope of background checks mandated under the Act.
HR 3108, the RPM Access Act, increases Medicare reimbursement for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in rural areas by setting a minimum reimbursement floor of 100% for practice expenses and malpractice costs starting in 2026. It requires that RPM services include real-time physician availability to address health issues, use data systems compatible with electronic health records, and mandates providers to report data on cost savings and adherence to medications. The bill directly affects rural Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes, as well as healthcare providers delivering RPM services in underserved rural communities. It also requires a 5-year report to Congress analyzing cost savings from RPM use, including reduced hospitalizations and medication adherence. The law aims to improve access to RPM in rural areas where healthcare shortages are most severe.
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
The Protecting Innocent Taxpayers from Endless Assessments Act limits the time the government has to collect unpaid taxes when a tax preparer commits fraud. Specifically, it prevents the statute of limitations from being extended if the taxpayer did not intentionally cause the error. This change directly benefits individuals who were victims of fraudulent tax filing practices by ensuring their tax liability cannot be pursued indefinitely. The law applies to any tax assessments or legal proceedings that begin after the bill is enacted.
The Securing America's Water Supply Act directs the Army Corps of Engineers to create a new office dedicated to improving water supply, conservation, and drought resilience. This office will identify opportunities to use existing federal authorities to store and manage water for municipal and industrial needs, while also helping states and local groups access technical and financial assistance. Key actions include clearing backlogs on water supply studies, updating internal policies on how reservoir storage is allocated, and coordinating with other agencies to plan for future water shortages. The bill also requires the Corps to report annually on the office's progress, staffing levels, and the status of ongoing water projects.
HR 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, amends the Atomic Energy Act to exclude certain nuclear fuel reprocessing methods from the definition of a "production facility." Specifically, it exempts facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel without separating plutonium from other elements, or continue uranium enrichment. This change would directly affect nuclear fuel recycling companies and facilities seeking to process spent reactor fuel under streamlined regulations. The bill focuses on altering regulatory classification to potentially simplify licensing for specific recycling processes.
HR 3194, the LOCOMOTIVES Act, prevents states from setting their own emissions standards for locomotives used in interstate commerce. It amends the Clean Air Act to clarify that federal emissions rules exclusively apply to locomotives providing common carrier railroad transportation for hire (like commercial freight or passenger services across state lines), excluding these from state regulation. This directly affects railroads operating interstate services and state environmental agencies that previously could establish stricter local rules for such locomotives. The bill does not change the actual emissions requirements but shifts regulatory authority solely to the federal government for this specific category of locomotives.
