Legislative Activity

The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026 amends the Social Security Act to recognize radiologist assistant services as a covered Medicare benefit. By establishing a clear payment structure for services performed under the supervision of a radiologist, this legislation aims to improve patient access to care and enhance the efficiency of radiologist-led teams.

This resolution seeks to exercise congressional disapproval of an EPA decision that granted California a waiver to set its own vehicle emission standards under the Clean Air Act. If enacted, this measure would nullify the EPA’s waiver, effectively stripping California of its authority to enforce the specific Advanced Clean Car Program and zero-emission vehicle requirements covered by that decision.

The Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026 updates Medicare coverage requirements for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs, effective January 1, 2028. The bill mandates the creation of distinct billing codes based on frame material, specifically allowing suppliers to charge patients the difference in cost for premium titanium or carbon fiber models. These provisions aim to provide clearer payment structures and enhanced transparency for patients selecting high-performance mobility equipment.

The Patients First Act of 2026 is comprehensive legislation designed to stabilize Medicare physician payments, improve patient access to primary care, and transition the current quality reporting system to a more clinician-led framework. By modernizing reimbursement formulas, reducing financial volatility for providers, and increasing transparency in value-based care models, the bill aims to ensure a more sustainable and predictable healthcare environment. These reforms seek to lower out-of-pocket costs for patients while supporting the long-term viability of medical practices.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to protect the integrity of dairy labeling by establishing a strict definition for what can be called a "dairy product." This bill prohibits foods that do not meet this new standard—derived from the milk of hooved mammals—from being sold across state lines under standardized dairy names. Enforcement will be managed by the FDA, which is required to issue guidance and report on compliance actions to Congress.

The SECURE Data Act establishes comprehensive consumer privacy rights, including the rights to access, correct, and delete personal data. It imposes strict requirements on companies regarding data minimization, security, and transparency, particularly concerning sensitive data and targeted advertising. The Act also mandates registration for data brokers and creates a framework for enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, while preempting conflicting state laws.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to enhance timely access to care and improve oversight for Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. The bill mandates faster decision-making for prior authorization requests, establishes strict compliance scoring with financial penalties for non-compliant plans, and requires MA plans to use the same medical necessity criteria as traditional Medicare. Furthermore, it protects providers by limiting retroactive denials for pre-approved services and ensuring prompt payment for those services.

The RED Tape Act aims to streamline the environmental policy review process under the Clean Air Act. This legislation updates Section 309 by clarifying the scope of written comments and designating the Administrator as the recipient. The bill also removes references to specific federal actions and proposed regulations from the review requirements.

The Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026 improves patient care by officially recognizing doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians within the Medicaid program. Additionally, the bill streamlines Medicare documentation requirements to ensure patients with diabetes have better access to essential therapeutic footwear.

The Community Passport Services Access Act authorizes eligible public libraries to serve as official passport acceptance facilities. This allows these libraries to collect and retain the associated execution fee for processing passport applications. The bill ensures that libraries already performing this function can continue to do so.

The Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act establishes new rules for deploying telecommunications and broadband facilities within public rights-of-way that cross railroad corridors, as well as directly within railroad rights-of-way. It outlines specific notification and application procedures, decision timelines for railroad carriers, and compensation requirements for application processing. The Act grants the Federal Communications Commission sole jurisdiction to resolve disputes between providers and railroads regarding facility placement and mandates rulemaking to ensure safety and efficiency.

The Health Tech Investment Act aims to establish clear payment guidelines for algorithm-based healthcare services under Medicare. This bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services ensure appropriate payment for these new technologies using manufacturer-submitted cost data when assigned to a new technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC). Furthermore, it clarifies payment policies for software as a service under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.

This resolution officially recognizes November as "National Bread Month" to celebrate bread's vital role in the American diet. It highlights bread as a nutritious, affordable, and culturally significant staple food that provides essential vitamins and minerals. The bill commends the baking industry and encourages Americans to explore the diversity and benefits of grain foods.

The Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act aims to streamline the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure by modifying environmental and historic preservation reviews. Specifically, it exempts certain projects involving the placement or modification of telecom facilities on existing eligible support structures from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA and standard historic preservation reviews under NHPA. This change is intended to speed up the process for upgrading and expanding broadband services.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the licensure of design professionals, such as architects and engineers, is vital for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. It urges states to maintain strong licensing standards for these professions, recognizing their critical role in infrastructure and community well-being. Congress supports the current state-level authority over professional licensing in these essential fields.

The SPARC Act establishes a new federal loan repayment program to incentivize specialty medical providers to practice in underserved rural communities. This program offers to repay up to $250,000 of eligible education loans in exchange for a six-year service commitment in a designated rural shortage area. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will administer the program through HRSA, prioritizing loan repayment for both physicians and non-physician specialists.

The Access to Claims Data Act establishes a system for qualified clinical data registries and clinician-led registries to request Medicare and Medicaid claims data. This access is intended to facilitate research, quality improvement initiatives, and the reporting of care quality metrics. Registries will use the linked data to assess provider performance and publish de-identified findings, provided they pay a fee covering the cost of data provision.

This joint resolution expresses Congressional disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule regarding California's "Advanced Clean Cars II" vehicle pollution standards. By rejecting this rule, Congress is effectively canceling the EPA's decision to grant California a waiver allowing it to set stricter emission standards than federal law typically permits. Consequently, the approved California standards will not take effect.

The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act aims to modernize how the FDA evaluates sunscreen active ingredients by prioritizing consumer safety through scientifically sound evidence, including real-world data and alternatives to animal testing. This legislation directs the FDA to finalize long-pending rules for over-the-counter sunscreen ingredients, emphasizing their role in skin cancer prevention. Furthermore, it mandates annual public reporting to Congress on the progress of implementing these new testing standards and reviewing ingredient applications.

The ABC-ED Act of 2025 aims to alleviate emergency department boarding and crowding by modernizing public health data systems to track real-time hospital bed capacity. It also directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to pilot programs specifically improving emergency care for older adults and those in acute psychiatric crisis. Finally, the bill mandates a study on best practices for statewide, real-time capacity tracking systems and their impact on ER wait times.