Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Jun 12, 2025

HR 4002: Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2025

Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2025 This bill repeals provisions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) that limit, for purposes of Medicare participation, self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals Stark law restrictions on physician-owned hospital self-referrals, enabling expanded Medicare access for patients under the bill's title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · United States · House May 9, 2025

HR 3320: Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act

This bill increases federal Medicaid funding for states that provide specific community-based mental health services to eligible adults. It directly affects adults aged 21+ with serious mental illness who earn under 150% of the poverty line. States qualify for higher federal funding (3-25 percentage points) based on offering at least three of seven defined services, including assertive community treatment, supported employment, peer support, and mobile crisis intervention. The bill requires services to be provided in the most integrated setting possible, meets quality standards to prevent hospitalization, and mandates states to collect and report demographic and outcome data every two years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases federal Medicaid funding for community-based mental health services targeting eligible adults with serious mental illness, expanding access and support for mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 18, 2025

S 609: BRAVE Act of 2025

The BRAVE Act of 2025 aims to improve mental health services for veterans by addressing workforce needs, expanding Vet Center services, and tailoring care for women veterans. It requires reports on pay disparities for mental health staff, modifies the REACH VET program to better address women veterans' unique risk factors like military sexual trauma, and mandates annual mental health consultations for veterans receiving disability compensation for mental health conditions. The bill also includes provisions for improving Vet Center infrastructure, expanding access to residential mental health treatment for veterans with spinal cord injuries, and enhancing coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense for transitioning service members. These changes directly affect veterans seeking mental health services, Vet Center staff, and mental health professionals working with veterans. The legislation focuses on concrete policy changes to make mental health services more accessible, effective, and tailored to veterans' specific needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health services for veterans via Vet Center expansion, tailored care for women veterans, and mandatory annual consultations - directly strengthens mental health care access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly improves veterans' mental health services via expanded Vet Centers, tailored care for women veterans, pay disparity reports, and mandatory consultations, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Substance Abuse Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 786: Public Health Funding Restoration Act

S 786, the Public Health Funding Restoration Act, restores annual funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund under the Affordable Care Act to $2 billion starting in fiscal year 2026. This bill directly affects federal health programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments. The key provision amends the Affordable Care Act to set this specific funding level, reversing prior cuts and ensuring resources for evidence-based prevention programs like immunizations, tobacco cessation, chronic disease prevention, and pandemic preparedness. The restored funding aims to support community health initiatives that have demonstrated cost savings - such as $16.50 saved per $1 spent on childhood vaccines - while strengthening public health infrastructure nationwide.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestores $2B annual funding for public health programs, directly increasing government spending on essential health services per ACA provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores $2B annual funding to Public Health Fund, reversing cuts and ensuring resources for HHS and public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Public Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 31, 2025

HR 2497: Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025

This bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a national public education campaign about abortion access. The campaign must provide medically accurate information on where to obtain abortion services (including medication abortion), legal rights for out-of-state care, identifying misleading anti-abortion centers, spotting disinformation, and protecting personal health data. It specifically targets underserved communities like people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, rural residents, and those with low incomes, while prohibiting the promotion of misinformation or abstinence-only programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides medically accurate abortion access information to underserved communities, improving healthcare access and protecting patient rights per bill's education campaign focus.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly mentions protecting immigrants as an underserved community and ensuring access to abortion services, which supports immigrant rights and services.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly requires protecting personal health data as part of its public education campaign, directly addressing data privacy within technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 28, 2025

S 280: Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

S 280, the Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act, removes barriers for foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) seeking U.S. aid under the Foreign Assistance Act. It directly affects foreign NGOs providing health services (like counseling) with non-U.S. funds, ensuring they cannot be denied aid solely for offering such services if they comply with local laws and U.S. federal standards. The bill prohibits denying aid based on health services provided with non-U.S. funds and stops applying stricter rules on non-U.S. funds for advocacy to foreign NGOs compared to U.S. NGOs. This changes how the U.S. government evaluates eligibility for aid, making the process more consistent for foreign health-focused organizations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves barriers for NGOs providing health services (e.g., counseling) to receive U.S. aid, enabling continued access to care without funding restrictions.95% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 11, 2025

HR 5319: LINE Act

The LINE Act (HR 5319) prohibits the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from sharing Medicaid health data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, it blocks the disclosure of individually identifiable health information from Medicaid enrollment records (under Title XIX of the Social Security Act) to ICE for immigration enforcement purposes. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees, particularly those who may be immigrants, by preventing their health data from being used in immigration proceedings. The law creates a clear barrier between Medicaid health records and immigration enforcement efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits sharing Medicaid health data with ICE, protecting patient privacy and preventing deterrence from accessing healthcare services for vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBlocks Medicaid health data sharing with ICE, limiting federal immigration enforcement cooperation and protecting immigrant enrollees' privacy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBlocks government data sharing with ICE for immigration enforcement, directly protecting Medicaid enrollee health data privacy - aligns with data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · United States · House May 14, 2025

HR 3415: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2025

This bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for hospital units across the country, requiring hospitals to maintain specific staffing levels (such as 1:1 in trauma units, 2:1 in critical care units, and 3:1 in emergency rooms) to improve patient safety and quality of care. Hospitals must develop transparent staffing plans that account for patient acuity, involve direct care nurses in planning, and document actual staffing levels for each shift. The bill includes strong whistleblower protections for nurses who object to unsafe staffing levels and prohibits hospitals from retaliating against nurses who report violations. It requires hospitals to comply with these standards as a condition for receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments, with enforcement through audits and civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations. The bill also includes provisions to support nurse recruitment and retention through workforce initiatives and training programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates specific nurse-to-patient ratios to improve patient safety and quality of care, directly advancing healthcare delivery standards and patient protection.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates nurse-to-patient ratios to reduce burnout and improve workplace safety, directly protecting nurses' working conditions and safety standards.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2025

HR 2381: SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025

HR 2381, the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025, reauthorizes and updates the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). It directly affects low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women across all 50 states, territories, and tribal communities by expanding access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and patient navigation support. Key provisions include updating program language to emphasize prevention alongside detection and control, adding specific strategies to reduce disparities, and appropriating $235 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030. The bill also requires a GAO study by 2027 to assess program eligibility, service trends, and barriers to screening access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to cancer screenings and diagnostic services for low-income, uninsured women through NBCCEDP reauthorization, directly advancing healthcare access and prevention.95% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 27, 2025

HR 1735: Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act

This bill amends federal mental health law to allow states to use up to 5% of their existing mental health funding for early intervention programs targeting children and adolescents. It requires states to include evidence-based prevention strategies in their plans - such as school-based support or community programs - to delay or reduce the severity of mental health issues before they become serious. States must report biennially to Congress on program details, demographics served (including age), and outcomes like reduced wait times for care. The law directly affects states receiving federal mental health funds and focuses on preventing escalation of mental health challenges in young people.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires school-based mental health programs using existing funds, directly supporting K-12 student well-being and educational access through mandated evidence-based interventions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects existing mental health funds to youth prevention programs, expanding access to early intervention services per federal mental health law amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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