This Senate resolution designates the week of September 20 through September 26, 2026, as Telehealth Awareness Week to recognize the growing role of remote medical services in the United States. The bill highlights how telehealth helps patients access care despite workforce shortages, geographic distance, or mobility challenges, noting that a significant portion of Medicare beneficiaries now use these services. It urges stakeholders to raise public awareness about the benefits of telehealth and to highlight available resources for both providers and patients. Additionally, the resolution calls for the collection and analysis of data on telehealth impacts to promote continuous access across all communities.
This House concurrent resolution supports designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as National Falls Prevention Awareness Week to highlight fall risks among adults over age 65. The bill cites statistics showing that falls are a leading cause of injury and death in this demographic, resulting in significant medical costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and private payors. It recognizes the effectiveness of cost-effective prevention strategies such as exercise programs, medication management, and home hazard reduction. Additionally, the resolution encourages federal investments in these programs and acknowledges the collaborative efforts of government agencies, health care providers, and community organizations to reduce fall risks.
The Stop the Wait Act of 2026 eliminates the five-month waiting period required before individuals can receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, with a phased reduction starting in 2026 and full elimination by 2031. The bill directly affects people who are newly disabled and seeking federal financial support by allowing them to access these payments immediately upon approval rather than after a delay. Additionally, the legislation provides immediate Medicare coverage for eligible individuals under age 65 who lack other health insurance during this transition period. This change ensures that those without minimum essential coverage can enroll in Medicare Part A from the first month of their disability entitlement instead of waiting twenty-four months.
The Community Health Worker Access Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include preventive care and services addressing social determinants of health provided by community health agencies, with benefits taking effect on January 1, 2027. These services are paid at 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or a federally established fee schedule, and they are exempt from Medicare deductibles. The bill also gives states an optional pathway to cover these same services under Medicaid, requiring state plan amendments that include workforce recruitment strategies and efforts to remove barriers for organizations that do not typically bill insurance. To support this expansion, the federal government increases its share of Medicaid costs by 6 percentage points for eligible community health expenditures in participating states.
The Glaucoma Vision Act of 2026 mandates that private health insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and Federal Employees Health Benefits programs cover annual glaucoma screenings for specific high-risk individuals starting in 2027. These covered individuals include adults aged 40 or older with African, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian ancestry, those with clinical risk factors such as diabetes or family history, and all adults aged 60 or older. The bill also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award $10 million in grants over two years to provide free or low-cost screenings and treatment to uninsured high-risk populations, with priority given to underserved communities. Additionally, it authorizes $10 million for research into glaucoma treatments, including optic nerve regeneration and gene therapies.
The CHC REBASE Act of 2026 amends the Medicare program to adjust payment rates for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) so that they cover 100 percent of estimated reasonable costs by 2028, effectively removing previous financial caps on these services. To support this change, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a working group with stakeholders from health centers, physicians, and CMS to review payment methodologies and recommend further modifications. Additionally, the legislation ensures that telehealth services provided by FQHCs and rural health clinics are paid at standard rates starting in 2027, treating associated costs as allowable expenses. The bill also mandates new guidance for Medicare Advantage plans to streamline "wraparound" payments to FQHCs and requires a Government Accountability Office report on how well these centers are included in insurance provider networks for underserved populations.
This House resolution recognizes the critical need for continuous Medicaid coverage for individuals undergoing active cancer treatment and encourages states to simplify the process for maintaining eligibility. It urges state Medicaid programs to use existing claims and health data to automatically identify patients with cancer, thereby exempting them from community engagement requirements without requiring additional paperwork or repeated proof of their condition. The resolution also calls on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide technical assistance to states to implement these streamlined procedures and extend similar protections to other chronic illnesses.
The Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit an annual report to Congress detailing Medicare claims for telehealth services. The report must include data on claim volumes, geographic distribution, patient demographics such as age and income level, and potential barriers to access like broadband availability. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a public dashboard on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website that displays this aggregated information in a searchable format. A Government Accountability Office audit is also required within three to five years of enactment to evaluate the implementation of these reporting requirements.
The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act of 2026 extends a Medicare Part D premium stabilization program through 2029 and makes it permanent starting in 2030, provided that ending the program would not cause prescription drug premiums to rise. This legislation directly affects seniors enrolled in Medicare prescription drug plans by aiming to keep their costs stable over time. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue updated operational guidelines for the program within 30 days of enactment.
The Protecting Approved Care Act would amend Medicare Advantage rules to prevent insurance companies from retroactively denying coverage for medical services that have already been approved or received by patients. Starting in 2028, plans would be prohibited from rejecting claims based on a lack of medical necessity if the service was authorized during the patient's care or did not require prior approval. Additionally, insurers could only reopen payment decisions or lower reimbursement amounts if there is good cause or reliable evidence of fraud, thereby protecting beneficiaries from unexpected claim reversals after treatment has occurred.
