Healthcare

in committee · United States · House Jan 23, 2026

HR 6794: VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act

HR 6794, the VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act, requires VA medical facilities to schedule appointments during the same phone call when a covered veteran (enrolled in VA's patient system) requests one. It mandates annual and quarterly public fact sheets from each facility detailing patient statistics, satisfaction ratings, wait times, facility achievements, and areas needing improvement. The bill also requires VA to notify Congress within 90 days when a medical center director is detailed to another position and to appoint an acting director within 120 days. All provisions expire three years after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires same-day scheduling and transparency reports to improve VA patient access and satisfaction, aligning with support indicators.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates same-call scheduling and transparency metrics (wait times, satisfaction) for VA medical centers, directly improving veterans' healthcare access and experience.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Dec 18, 2025

HR 6906: Protecting Patients from Rehab Fraud Act of 2025

HR 6906 requires the Department of Justice and the Government Accountability Office to each submit a report to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. The DOJ report must examine illegal tactics in rehab facilities, insurance fraud related to Affordable Care Act plans, broker misconduct, drug trafficking, patient dumping practices, and homelessness impacts. The GAO report will assess current federal and state actions against insurance fraud, effectiveness of rehabilitation funding, and recommend policy changes. This bill directly affects prospective patients seeking rehabilitation by mandating transparency into industry fraud, but it does not create new laws or penalties itself.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets rehab facility fraud, ACA insurance fraud, and patient misconduct, requiring reports to protect patients - aligns with patient protection indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 6610: Pharmacists Fight Back [in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act]

This bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employee health plans to reimburse pharmacies at specific rates, including the national average drug cost plus a small percentage or $50, whichever is lower. It prohibits PBMs from favoring their own pharmacies, restricting patient choice, or reducing pharmacy payments after claims are processed. The bill establishes $10,000 civil penalties for violations, with debarment from federal health plans after 10 penalties in 10 years. This directly affects PBMs, in-network pharmacies, and federal health benefit plans covering millions of federal employees and their families. The law aims to ensure fair reimbursement practices and maintain pharmacy choice under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates fair pharmacy reimbursement rates in federal health plans, prohibits PBMs from restricting patient choice or favoring own pharmacies, and protects pharmacy access - directly strengthening patient access to medications.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects pharmacy workers' compensation by mandating fair reimbursement rates from PBMs in federal health plans, preventing payment reductions that would impact earnings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Feb 7, 2025

HR 1108: Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025

The Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and regularly update a national plan for rapidly developing, distributing, and scaling diagnostic testing during public health emergencies, such as pandemics or bioterrorism threats. The plan must detail processes for test development, validation, and distribution - prioritizing new technologies like at-home and point-of-care tests - and coordinate with states, tribes, private manufacturers, and labs. The Secretary must release the initial plan within one year of enactment and update it every three years. This policy directly affects federal emergency response readiness, aiming to streamline testing access during crises by improving coordination and domestic capacity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates national plan for rapid diagnostic testing during health emergencies, strengthening public health infrastructure and preparedness for pandemics/bioterrorism.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly prioritizes new diagnostic technologies (e.g., at-home tests) for public health emergencies, advancing medical tech deployment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 6, 2025

S 882: Patients Before Middlemen Act

The Patients Before Middlemen Act (S 882) improves pharmacy access for Medicare beneficiaries by requiring prescription drug plans to allow any pharmacy meeting standard contract terms to join their networks. It establishes "essential retail pharmacies" in medically underserved areas or regions with limited pharmacy access (such as rural areas with no other pharmacies within 10 miles), and creates standards for reasonable and relevant contract terms between drug plans and pharmacies. The bill also increases transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, mandating detailed annual reports on drug costs, rebates, and pricing practices, with many provisions taking effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare pharmacy access by requiring plan networks to include qualified pharmacies and designating essential retail pharmacies in underserved areas, directly improving patient access to prescription drugs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2025

HR 5123: Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025

This bill requires the EPA to establish guidelines for indoor air contaminants like radon, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide that affect schools and childcare facilities. It mandates a national assessment of indoor air quality in these buildings, with updates every five years, and provides technical assistance to schools and childcare providers to implement air quality improvements. The EPA must publish science-based guidelines with recommended concentration limits for key contaminants and support voluntary building certifications for healthier indoor environments. These provisions directly impact local schools, childcare centers, and state/local governments responsible for building maintenance and health standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires EPA guidelines for school air quality, improving physical learning environments and safety, directly supporting school infrastructure as per education policy indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates EPA guidelines to reduce indoor air pollutants (radon, formaldehyde) in schools, directly advancing pollution control and environmental protection in public spaces.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates EPA guidelines for indoor air quality in schools, directly reducing health risks from contaminants like radon and formaldehyde, aligning with public health protection indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates EPA guidelines to reduce workplace contaminants in schools/childcare facilities, directly improving worker safety in employment settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Testing & Assessment Air Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 18, 2025

HR 1410: 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025

HR 1410 expands access to mental health care for 9/11 responders and survivors by allowing licensed mental health providers (not just physicians) to conduct initial health evaluations and certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program. It adjusts the program’s funding formula to account for changing enrollment numbers by linking annual funding to the previous year’s enrollment ratio, and clarifies that deceased individuals are excluded from enrollment counts. The bill also extends the timeframe for adding new health conditions to the program’s list and requires a 2028 report assessing long-term funding needs through 2090. These changes aim to streamline eligibility, improve care access, and ensure sustainable funding for the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adjusts funding formula for 9/11 health program and expands mental health access, strengthening government spending for essential public health services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health provider access beyond physicians and adjusts funding to sustain WTC Health Program, directly improving patient access and program stability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands mental health care access for 9/11 responders and survivors, strengthening worker benefits and health protections under the World Trade Center Health Program.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands mental health care access for 9/11 responders and survivors under the World Trade Center Health Program, improving healthcare benefits for this veteran-related group.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Workplace Safety

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in committee · United States · House Jan 28, 2025

HR 772: Rural ER Access Act

HR 772, the Rural ER Access Act, removes a Medicare rule requiring off-campus emergency departments to be within 35 miles of a main hospital campus. Specifically, it directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to revise Medicare regulations (42 CFR §413.65(e)(3)(i)) to eliminate this location requirement. This change directly affects rural hospitals and healthcare organizations seeking to establish or expand off-campus emergency departments. The key mechanism is updating the Medicare eligibility criteria, allowing such facilities to qualify for billing without the previous geographic restriction, potentially increasing access to emergency care in rural areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves Medicare distance requirement, enabling rural hospitals to establish off-campus ERs and improving emergency care access in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 6, 2025

S 894: Do No Harm Act

This bill amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not block enforcement of key federal laws protecting civil rights and safety. Specifically, it adds an exception preventing RFRA claims from overriding laws that prohibit discrimination (like the Civil Rights Act of 1964), ensure workplace protections (such as the Family and Medical Leave Act), prevent child exploitation, or guarantee healthcare access. The amendment ensures religious freedom arguments cannot be used to challenge these existing legal requirements. It also clarifies that RFRA does not apply to lawsuits against government entities seeking relief for violations of these protections.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly prevents RFRA claims from overriding laws guaranteeing healthcare access, protecting existing healthcare access protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prevents RFRA claims from overriding workplace protections (e.g., FMLA), strengthening labor rights enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 3, 2025

S 376: Expanded Food Safety Investigation Act of 2025

This bill allows the USDA or FDA to request microbial sampling at large livestock facilities (concentrated animal feeding operations) during foodborne illness investigations. Facilities must provide reasonable access for sampling animals, water, plants, and the environment to help identify outbreak causes, but can set practical conditions like timing. It does not change existing food safety rules for meat, poultry, or egg products under other federal laws. The goal is to improve outbreak investigations through coordinated data sharing with public health agencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances public health by improving foodborne illness outbreak investigations, a core public health program, thus supporting healthcare prevention efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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