News

Lawmakers Advance Bipartisan Health Bills

July 27, 2026

• Weekly Policy Briefing
• Administration
• Capitol Hill

Lawmakers Advance Bipartisan Health Bills – Both chambers of Congress considered healthcare bills on the floor last week, with the House of Representatives voting to pass 13 bills under suspension of the rules and the Senate voting to pass the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act (S. 1041) by unanimous consent. The 13 healthcare related bills passed by the House include:

• FDA Modernization Act 3.0 (H.R. 2821)
• NIH IMPROVE Act (H.R. 6238)
• EARLY Act Reauthorization (H.R. 4541)
• Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act (H.R. 2715)
• Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8205)
• Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5160)
• Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act (H.R. 3747)
• DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act (H.R. 3491)
• Action for Dental Health Act (H.R. 2001)
• Choices for Increased Mobility Act (H.R. 1703)
• Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act (H.R. 8823)
• R. 1493, to reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries
• R. 4348, to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act

The House is now in a District Work Period and scheduled to return to Washington on August 31, while the Senate is scheduled to remain in session through August 7.

 

Appropriations Update – The House of Representatives passed a stopgap spending measure (H.R. 9770) on Tuesday to extend government funding at current levels until after the November midterm elections. The continuing resolution would fund the government through December 4. The Senate would need to pass the legislation no later than September 30 to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year. The bill passed by the House last week does not include any of the White House’s requested anomalies, such as an increase in funding for military health programs and the Indian Health Service, or a loosening of restrictions around hemp products.

 

House Advances FY 2027 Budget Resolution – The House of Representatives adopted a $95 billion budget resolution on Wednesday in a party-line vote. Adoption of the budget framework is a key step toward advancing the third budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. The blueprint does not contain instructions for committees with healthcare jurisdiction – meaning major health provisions or offsets will not be included in the eventual reconciliation package, which is instead expected to focus on defense spending, aid to farmers, and voting integrity. Lawmakers will begin the process of drafting the package after the budget resolution is adopted by Senate Republicans, with the administration pushing the GOP to send a reconciliation bill to the President for his signature before the November midterm elections.

 

Health Panels Advance Bills Ahead of Summer Recess – Committees in both chambers of Congress advanced a significant number of healthcare measures last week in advance of the August recess. In the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the following bills were bundled as part of a substitute amendment for the health transparency proposal known as the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 9393):

• Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act (H.R. 9392)
• Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (H.R. 5526)
• Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act (H.R. 9661)
• Prior Authorization Accountability Act (H.R. 9396)
• Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514)
• Expanding Community Access to Health Services Act (H.R. 8201)
• Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act (H.R. 9389)
• Premium Transparency Act (H.R. 9397)
• H.R. 5243, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage

Other bills favorably reported out of Energy and Commerce include:

• Prices on the Wall Act (H.R. 9390)
• Combating Illicit Xylazine Act(H.R. 1266)
• Tyler’s Law(H.R. 2004)
• STOP Nitazenes Act(H.R. 7970)
• ALERT Communities Act(H.R. 1561)
• HERO Act(H.R. 7994)
• Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005)

 

Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee advanced the Reinforcing Underserved, Rural, and Local Healthcare Act (H.R. 8347). The bill clarifies that locum tenens healthcare providers qualify as independent contractors, exempting them from the Fair Labor Standards Act. It was passed in a party line vote.

 

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act (H.R. 6610). The legislation establishes new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers participating in the Federal Employes Health Benefits Program. The bill was passed in a 40-2 vote.

 

In the Senate, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to favorably report the following bills:

• Patients Deserve Price Tags Act (S. 2355)
• INSULIN Act of 2026 (S. 4189)
• Making America’s Food Safer Act (S. 4974)
• Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act (S. 5026)
• Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act (S. 1414)
• CLEAR LABELS Act (S. 3788)
• SAFE Drugs Act (S. 3794)
• National Plan for Epilepsy Act (S. 494)
• EMPOWER for Health Act (S. 4110)
• Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (S. 1874)
• Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (S. 380)

 

Lawmakers Request Feedback on MACRA Legislation – Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-Pa.), Greg Murphy, MD (R-N.C.), and Kim Schrier, MD (D-Wash.) released a request for information last week asking for feedback as it relates to the Patients First Act (H.R. 9693). As a reminder, this comprehensive legislation to reform the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) would:

• Tie physician reimbursement to an inflationary measure.
• Establish a primary care hybrid payment pilot program that pays primary care providers a per-member-per-month payment along with regular services.
• Rebrand the Medicare Quality Payment Program and transition to the Patient Outcome Improvement National Tabulation System (POINTS), and establish a physician and clinician-led task force at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop quality metrics.
• Freeze advanced-alternative payment model participation thresholds for three years and create notice and comment periods for Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation mandatory models.
• Increase the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $57.64 million.

The RFI specifically seeks input on potential offsets to fund a permanent, inflation-based physician payment update, any areas in the Medicare system where the program systematically overpays for services that could be provided in a less expensive care setting, and ways to shift care to less expensive settings without compromising patient access. Stakeholders should submit their responses to [email protected] and [email protected] no later than August 21st.

 

HELP Reschedules Vote on CDC Nominees – The Senate HELP Committee postponed its vote on the nomination of Erica Schwartz to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Attendance issues were blamed for the delay, with Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) absent the day of the vote due to a family emergency. The panel has rescheduled the executive session for Thursday, July 30. Schwartz’s nomination is expected to advance, having secured the support of HELP Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.). In addition, the committee will vote on the nomination of Sean Kaufman to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The path forward for Kaufman’s nomination is less clear.  Kaufman has previously questioned the safety of the Covid-19 and hepatitis B vaccines, and both Cassidy and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) remain undecided on whether to vote for the ASPR nominee. Kaufman will need the support of all 12 Republicans on the panel if Democrats remain unanimous in their opposition to his nomination.

 

Cornyn Seeks to Unfreeze PEPFAR Funds – Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) voted in support of several executive nominations last week after receiving assurances from the White House that it will release appropriated funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Sen. Cornyn had previously threatened to hold up advancement of the ambassadorship nominations of Kari Lake and Doug Mastriano from the Foreign Relations Committee over funding for the global AIDS prevention program. The Trump administration has repeatedly pushed to scale back PEPFAR programming since taking office last year.

 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to receive the testimony of Anthony Fauci; 8:30 a.m.; July 29

 

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee executive session to consider legislation including the Health Information Privacy Reform Act (S. 3097) as well as the nomination of Erica Schwartz to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sean Kaufman to be Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for the Department of Health and Human Services, and Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor; 9:45 a.m.; July 30

 

Recently Introduced Health Legislation

S.5034 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage; Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

H.R.9774 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for expedited approval of priority nonprescription drugs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Latta, Robert E. [Rep.-R-OH-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9790 — Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 of 2026; Sponsor: Norcross, Donald [Rep.-D-NJ-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Judiciary

 

H.R.9791 — To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the requirements for the small business waiver from device fees related to annual establishment registration, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Perry, Scott [Rep.-R-PA-10]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

S.Res.809 — A resolution designating June 15, 2026, as “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” and the month of June 2026 as “Elder Abuse Awareness Month”; Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA]; Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

 

S.5037 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to make all children eligible for Medicaid from birth until age 26, to require States to automatically enroll children and young adults under age 26 in the State Medicaid program, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5041 — A bill to advance population research for chronic pain; Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5043 — A bill to direct the Food and Drug Administration to prevent the importation of counterfeit, unapproved, misbranded, or adulterated drugs from the People’s Republic of China or other foreign countries, to establish enhanced safeguards for imported drug products, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Budd, Ted [Sen.-R-NC]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5052 — A bill to address the health of cancer survivors and unmet needs that survivors face through the entire continuum of care from diagnosis through active treatment and posttreatment, in order to improve survivorship, treatment, transition to recovery and beyond, quality of life and palliative care, and long-term health outcomes, including by developing a minimum standard of care for cancer survivorship, irrespective of the type of cancer, a survivor’s background, or forthcoming survivorship needs, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5056 — A bill to improve State, local, and Tribal public health security; Sponsor: Warren, Elizabeth [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5059 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to streamline the review of biosimilar biological products; Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

H.R.9798 — To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to exempt certain employer-sponsored group health plans governed by ERISA from the Affordable Care Act’s Essential Health Benefits requirements, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Allen, Rick W. [Rep.-R-GA-12]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9811 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase funding for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account; Sponsor: Moore, Blake D. [Rep.-R-UT-1]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9816 – To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to improve Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program for low-income mothers; Sponsor: Pressley, Ayanna [Rep.-D-MA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9820 — To improve State, local, and Tribal public health security; Sponsor: Stansbury, Melanie A. [Rep.-D-NM-1]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

S.5062 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require medicare administrative contractors, unified program integrity contractors, and qualified independent contractors to pay the legal fees for certain durable medical equipment suppliers that were incorrectly denied payment; Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5066 — A bill to improve the health of minority individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Padilla, Alex [Sen.-D-CA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5085 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply inflation adjustments to the additional hospital insurance tax on high income taxpayers; Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5088 — A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to prohibit lifetime or annual limits on dental coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and to require wraparound coverage of dental services for certain children under such program; Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5089 —  A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of dental services under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5091 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve coverage of dental and oral health services for adults under Medicaid, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

H.R.9823 — To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of Alzheimer’s biomarker testing under group health plans, group and individual health insurance coverage, and the Medicaid program; Sponsor: Auchincloss, Jake [Rep.-D-MA-4]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9829 — ORTHO Act; Sponsor: Babin, Brian [Rep.-R-TX-36]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9831 —To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve coverage of dental and oral health services for adults under Medicaid, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Barragán, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9832 —To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of dental services under the Medicare program; Sponsor: Barragán, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.9833 —To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to prohibit lifetime or annual limits on dental coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and to require wraparound coverage of dental services for certain children under such program; Sponsor: Barragán, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9839 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to, through subgrants to eligible entities, improve certain impacts of participation in programs related to physical activity or youth sports and increase access to youth sports, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carey, Mike [Rep.-R-OH-15]; Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9842 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to establish and maintain State offices of women’s health, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9844 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to long-term care and post-acute care providers for purposes of developing and adopting health information technology; Sponsor: Cleaver, Emanuel [Rep.-D-MO-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

H.R.9846 — To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to treat certain individuals receiving child’s insurance benefits as receiving supplemental security income benefits for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility; Sponsor: Dingell, Debbie [Rep.-D-MI-6]; Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9847 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure Medicaid coverage of mental health services or substance use disorder services and primary care services furnished on the same day; Sponsor: Dunn, Neal P. [Rep.-R-FL-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9862 — To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for the conduct of an independent evaluation of artificial intelligence systems in use by the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Murphy, Gregory F. [Rep.-R-NC-3]; Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs

 

H.R.9863 — To direct the Director of the Defense Health Agency to submit to Congress a report on the feasibility of establishing a pilot program that establishes a behavioral neurology fellowship program to provide training opportunities with respect to treating members of the Armed Forces and veterans with traumatic brain injuries; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House – Armed Services

 

H.R.9865 — To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report and establish standards on the timeliness of providing electronic health records to members of the Armed Forces separating from active duty, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House – Armed Services

 

H.R.9866 — C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9867 — Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act; Sponsor: Neguse, Joe [Rep.-D-CO-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9877 —To improve the health of minority individuals, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Ruiz, Raul [Rep.-D-CA-25]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Agriculture; Oversight and Government Reform; Education and Workforce; Judiciary; Budget; Veterans’ Affairs; Natural Resources; Armed Services; Homeland Security; Financial Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.9891 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a demonstration program to share savings with plans that invest in preventing the progression of kidney disease to end-stage renal disease; Sponsor: Wilson, Joe [Rep.-R-SC-2]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means

 

S.5128 — A bill to prohibit the award of Federal education funds to educational institutions and agencies that do not allow for religious exemptions to vaccination requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5127 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain compensation to clinical trial participants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5119 — A bill to require the United States Postal Service to sell the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp for 6 additional years. Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

 

S.5117 — A bill to establish consumer transparency and protection requirements for artificial intelligence chatbots, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Kelly, Mark [Sen.-D-AZ];  Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

 

S.5113 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report on the state of men’s health in the United States and to establish an Office of Men’s Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. Sponsor: Gallego, Ruben [Sen.-D-AZ]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5112 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enforce certain requirements with respect to for-profit corporations that own health care systems, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA]; Committees: Senate – Finance

 

S.5108 — A bill to protect and expand nationwide access to assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization. Sponsor: Duckworth, Tammy [Sen.-D-IL]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5100 — A bill to name the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Newton, New Jersey, as the “Anthony ‘Tony’ J. Gallopo VA Clinic”. Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs

 

S.5099 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program for addressing dental workforce needs. Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ]; Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

 

S.5097 — A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for a pause on the issuance of H-1B visas until certain limitations on the issuance thereof are implemented. Sponsor: Sheehy, Tim [Sen.-R-MT]; Committees: Senate – Judiciary

 

H.Res.1458 — Recognizing July 28, 2026, as “World Hepatitis Day”; Sponsor: Velázquez, Nydia M. [Rep.-D-NY-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9908 — To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Houchin, Erin [Rep.-R-IN-9]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9910 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enforce certain requirements with respect to for-profit corporations that own health care systems, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Jayapal, Pramila [Rep.-D-WA-7]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Financial Services; Ways and Means; Judiciary

 

H.R.9923 — To demonstrate United States leadership and to engage successfully in biotechnology diplomacy by recruiting and training biotechnology experts that can advocate for United States biotechnology priorities internationally, to ensure that Regional Technology Officers receive specialized training in biotechnology, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Moylan, James C. [Del.-R-GU-At Large]; Committees: House – Foreign Affairs

 

H.R.9937 — To amend the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to modify the offenses relating to fentanyl, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Stutzman, Marlin A. [Rep.-R-IN-3]; Committees: House – Judiciary; Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Government Reform

 

H.R.9940 — To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide a temporary higher Federal medical assistance percentage for Federal expenditures under the Medicaid program that are associated with the cost of compliance with certain Federal regulations with respect to services furnished in certain intermediate care facilities or home and community-based services furnished to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; Sponsor: Tonko, Paul [Rep.-D-NY-20]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

 

H.R.9941 — To protect and expand nationwide access to assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization; Sponsor: Trahan, Lori [Rep.-D-MA-3]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services; Education and Workforce; Ways and Means; Oversight and Government Reform

 

H.R.9946 —To require the coverage of testing for certain sexually transmitted infections without the imposition of cost sharing, and for other purposes; Sponsor: Williams, Nikema [Rep.-D-GA-5]; Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services; Natural Resources