Legislative Activity

The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025 extends the current Medicare transition payment rates for durable medical equipment in non-competitive bidding areas through the end of 2025. This action delays the implementation of new payment regulations until January 1, 2026. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to maintain existing payment structures in these specific areas for the remainder of the year.

The Veterans SPORT Act ensures that eligible veterans receive adaptive prosthetics and terminal devices for sports and recreational activities as part of their medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill expands the scope of covered medical services to enhance veterans' access to prosthetics necessary for an active lifestyle.

The START Act of 2025 amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code, Section 1703(a)(2), to establish that the referral period for veterans to receive care from non-VA providers under the Community Care Program begins on the date of the veteran's first appointment with that provider. This ensures a standardized and valid referral timeframe for veterans seeking community care.

The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act allows State homes caring for veterans to choose how they receive reimbursement for very high-cost medications. State homes can opt to be reimbursed directly for the medication's cost or have the Secretary of the VA furnish the drug directly. This provision applies only when the cost of a specific medication exceeds a defined threshold relative to the standard monthly payment for that veteran's care.

This Act updates the definition of "fossil fuel" under the Clean Air Act to specifically include fuel used by ocean-going vessels. This change allows the EPA to incorporate maritime fuel into renewable fuel standards moving forward. The EPA is required to finalize the necessary regulations within one year of the bill's enactment.

The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to enhance transparency regarding foreign influence in lobbying activities. This legislation mandates that lobbyists must now disclose the name and address of any foreign government or political party that directs, plans, supervises, or controls their lobbying efforts. This ensures the public and regulators are aware of foreign entities influencing domestic lobbying work.

The "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025" mandates federal agencies to report annually on taxpayer-funded projects that are significantly behind schedule or have exceeded their original cost estimates by at least $1 billion. This information will be compiled into a report by the Office of Management and Budget and submitted to Congress and made public on their website. The report will include project descriptions, costs, timelines, and reasons for delays or overruns. This aims to increase transparency and accountability in government spending.

The "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act" requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to report on the establishment of online portals by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture for processing Form 299, which pertains to communications use authorization on public lands. The report must identify any barriers to creating these portals. The relevant Secretary must notify the Assistant Secretary within 3 business days after establishing an online portal.

The "Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act" aims to broaden access to dental coverage by enabling individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans via the Health Insurance Exchange, irrespective of their enrollment status in a qualified health plan. This expands options for individuals seeking dental insurance.

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" amends Medicare Part D to improve access to non-opioid pain management drugs by waiving deductibles and ensuring they are placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The Act also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, further easing access for patients. These changes aim to provide more accessible alternatives for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.

The "Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and regularly update a plan for the rapid development, validation, production, and distribution of diagnostic tests in response to public health emergencies. This plan aims to improve coordination between public and private entities, consider new technologies, address medical supply needs, and ensure efficient test distribution. The Secretary is authorized to contract with public and private entities to enhance domestic diagnostic testing capacity and must release the plan within one year, updating it every three years thereafter.

The "Medicaid Program Improvement Act" requires states to verify Medicaid enrollees' address information regularly through reliable data sources starting January 1, 2026. It also mandates that managed care entities share address information received from or verified with enrollees to the state. This aims to improve the reliability of address information within the Medicaid program.