Healthcare (Children's Health)

HR 87, the "Protecting Our Children from the CDC Act," requires the CDC to publicly post all clinical safety and effectiveness data for any COVID-19 vaccine before it can be added to the official child and adolescent immunization schedule. It automatically removes all currently listed COVID-19 vaccines from that schedule upon the bill's enactment. The bill mandates that all posted data must be de-identified to protect privacy. This applies specifically to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) schedule and affects how future CDC vaccine recommendations for children are made. The law does not alter the CDC's authority to later reinstate a vaccine if the required data is posted.

The Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act of 2025 prohibits the implementation of a 2024 rule that would have streamlined Medicaid application and enrollment processes. It requires states to verify U.S. citizenship or immigration status before enrolling individuals in Medicaid and mandates quarterly verification of income-based eligibility for those relying on income calculations. The bill also blocks federal funding for Medicaid coverage for certain non-citizens, including parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, asylum seekers, and individuals granted withholding of removal. These provisions directly affect non-citizen Medicaid applicants and require states to adjust enrollment and verification procedures.

HR 4618, the "Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act," creates legal liability for pediatric gender clinics and medical practitioners who perform gender-transition procedures on minors. It prohibits federal funding for such clinics, affiliated institutions (like hospitals or universities), and any gender-transition procedures performed on minors. Individuals harmed by these procedures can file lawsuits up to 30 years after turning 18, seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law applies retroactively to procedures performed before, on, or after its effective date. It specifically excludes exceptions for medical conditions like ambiguous biological characteristics or life-threatening illnesses.

HR 4209, the "No Medicaid for Illegals Act," would prohibit federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for individuals without verified U.S. citizenship, nationality, or immigration status. It removes the current requirement for states to provide medical coverage while individuals verify their status, meaning states are no longer obligated to cover such individuals during verification periods. States may choose to continue coverage during these periods by electing an optional provision. The bill affects all states administering Medicaid and CHIP programs and would take effect upon enactment.

S 312, the "Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act," creates a federal legal claim for minors harmed by gender-transition procedures. It defines "gender-transition procedure" (excluding cases involving ambiguous biological characteristics, medical emergencies, or life-threatening conditions) and holds pediatric gender clinics, medical practitioners, and affiliated hospitals/institutions liable for bodily or mental health harm caused to minors. The bill prohibits federal funding for such clinics or procedures and allows affected individuals to sue up to 30 years after turning 18, seeking damages and attorney fees.

This bill prohibits federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for specific medical procedures related to gender transition, as defined in the legislation. It amends the Social Security Act to block funding for surgeries (like hysterectomy, phalloplasty, or mastectomy), hormone therapies (including puberty blockers or supraphysiologic doses), and certain cosmetic procedures when performed to change physical characteristics to align with a person's gender identity. Exceptions apply for medically necessary treatments, such as puberty suppression for precocious puberty, correction of disorders of sex development, or life-threatening conditions. The bill directly affects Medicaid/CHIP recipients seeking these covered procedures and requires states to exclude them from funded services. It does not ban the procedures themselves but restricts federal financial support for them.

Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025 This bill allows certain individuals with health savings accounts (HSAs) to receive federal payments. It also restricts payments under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) regarding certain noncitizens and restricts coverage of gender-transition procedures. Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Department of Health and Human Services to deposit payments into an individual’s HSA during 2026-2027 if the individual has a bronze or catastrophic plan through a health insurance exchange, is between the ages of 18 and 64, and has income up to 700% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Individuals may receive $1,000 or $1,500 annually, depending on age.  The bill also provides funds, beginning in 2027, for cost-sharing reductions for certain individuals who have a silver plan and income up to 250% of the FPL. Beginning in 2027, the bill allows any individual to enroll in a catastrophic plan. Currently, these plans are limited to those under the age of 30 or who have certain exemptions. The bill also reduces the enhanced federal matching rate for the Medicaid expansion population in states that provide any health benefits for individuals who are not qualified aliens under federal law. The bill makes Medicaid and CHIP coverage of individuals while their status is being verified optional and conditions federal payment during this period on verification.  Finally, the bill prohibits exchange plans from covering gender-transition procedures as an essential health benefit and prohibits federal payment under Medicaid and CHIP for these procedures.

This bill would deny federal tax deductions for gender transition procedures and prohibit Medicaid, Medicare, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for such procedures. It defines gender transition procedures broadly to include hormonal treatments, surgeries, and cosmetic procedures intended to align physical appearance with gender identity, with limited exceptions for medically necessary treatments related to disorders of sex development or life-threatening conditions. The legislation would also require health insurance plans to exclude gender transition procedures from essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act. This would directly affect individuals seeking gender transition care who rely on federal health programs or tax deductions for medical expenses.