HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Bills and resolutions

Business and industry: prevent exploitative private equity practices in health care system (see S. 3829), S577 [11FE] (see H.R. 7537), H2218 [12FE]

Centers for Mediare & Medicare Services: establish total nurse staffing hours per resident day and require 24-hour use of registered professional nurses in nursing homes (see S. 3886), S609 [12FE]

Children and youth: establish criminal offense for transportation of minor for gender transition procedure (see H.R. 7420), H2094 [9FE]

——— require providers to disclose policies regarding minimum gestational age at which life-saving care will be provided to infant in case of premature birth (see H.R. 7912), H2482 [12MR]

Defense Production Act: ensure supply of certain medical articles essential to national defense (see H.R. 7777), H2369 [3MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: authorize rural health facilities to use certain Federal agricultural credit assistance to refinance debt obligations, update necessary services, technology, and equipment, and support ancillary needs (see H.R. 7514), H2186 [11FE]

——— make temporary zero-percent interest loans under Community Facilities Direct Loan Program to construct or renovate certain rural hospitals (see S. 4141), S1367 [19MR]

Dept. of HHS: address social determinants of maternal health to eliminate maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities (see H.R. 8008), H2620 [19MR]

——— allow individuals to obtain copy of their protected health information at no cost in certain circumstances (see H.R. 7790), H2419 [4MR]

——— award grants to establish or expand programs to implement evidence-aligned practices in health care settings to reduce suicide rates of covered individuals (see S. 4210), S1614 [25MR] (see H.R. 8070), H2710 [25MR]

——— carry out program to collect data relative to sickle cell disease in U.S. (see H.R. 8067), H2675 [24MR]

——— conduct study and report to Congress on contraceptive access at community health centers in health care deserts (see H.R. 8084), H2710 [25MR]

——— conduct study on designation of general surgery shortage areas (see H.R. 7198), H1349 [22JA]

——— designate areas as Health Investment Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas (see S. 3840), S577 [11FE] (see H.R. 7496), H2185 [11FE]

——— ensure that Federally-qualified health centers are not required to pay more than 340B ceiling price for covered outpatient drugs at time of purchase (see H.R. 7391), H2040 [5FE]

——— ensure that women seeking chemical abortion are made aware of risks involved (see H.R. 7237), H1912 [23JA]

——— establish advisory committee on training in community health centers (see H.R. 7289), H1921 [30JA]

——— establish demonstration program to award grants to States to improve provision of recommended immunizations for children, adolescents, and adults through use of mobile vaccination units (see H.R. 7465), H2118 [10FE]

——— establish programs to reduce rates of sepsis (see H.R. 7116), H919 [15JA]

——— establish rural health center innovation awards program and rural health department enhancement program (see S. 4204), S1614 [25MR]

——— improve data collection on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (see S. 4187), S1614 [25MR] (see H.R. 8080), H2710 [25MR]

——— provide funding for Quality Improvement Organizations to work with lower-resourced providers to improve preparedness and performance, improve Medicare services, and ensure continuity of services during disasters (see H.R. 7486), H2185 [11FE]

——— study strategies to apply artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in health care industry to improve administrative and clerical work and preserve privacy and security of patient data (see H.R. 7064), H892 [14JA]

Dept. of HUD: provide parity relative to access to mortgage insurance for hospitals program for licensed psychiatric hospitals (see H.R. 7030), H717 [13JA]

Dept. of Labor: establish protections for health care providers who raise concerns about quality of health care services (see S. 4086), S1047 [12MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize construction of community-based outpatient clinic in Georgetown, TX, as major medical facility project (see H.R. 7489), H2185 [11FE]

——— carry out efforts to inform veterans of their rights relative to receipt of health care, benefits, and services under current law (see S. 3653), S256 [15JA] (see H.R. 7112), H919 [15JA]

——— carry out pilot program to provide grants to outpatient mental health facilities for provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care for veterans (see S. 4137), S1205 [18MR]

——— carry out pilot program to provide market-based rate adjustments to certain providers for qualifying specialized surgical services to veterans under Veterans Community Care Program (see S. 4131), S1205 [18MR]

——— codify requirements for appointment, qualifications, and pay for therapeutic medical physicists (see S. 3771), S489 [4FE]

——— designate medical facilities as innovative therapies centers of excellence (see S. 4031), S915 [9MR]

——— disapprove rule entitled ‘‘Reproductive Health Services’’ (see S.J. Res. 103), S291 [27JA] (see H.J. Res. 144), H1915 [27JA]

——— ensure that women veterans may schedule appointments for women’s specialty care without requiring referral (see S. 3999), S881 [5MR]

——— establish procurement program to facilitate ability of medical centers to make direct procurements of original artwork from veterans who are patients (see H.R. 7838), H2470 [5MR]

——— improve efficiency of recovery and collection of revenue for Medical Care Collections Fund (see H.R. 8043), H2674 [24MR]

——— modify rate of pay for care or services provided under Community Care Program based on location at which such care or services were provided (see H.R. 8057), H2675 [24MR]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: codify authority for joint medical facility demonstration fund (see S. 3992), S802 [4MR]

——— jointly adopt and use interoperable image-sharing software technology for purpose of sharing medical images and related data at medical facilities (see H.R. 7558), H2219 [12FE]

FDA: enhance ability of outsourcing facilities to mitigate drug shortages by allowing short-term period to continue supplying market after drug is in shortage (see H.R. 7528), H2217 [12FE]

Health: provide private right of action for children and parents of children whose healthy body parts have been damaged by medical professionals practicing or participating in certain interventions (see H.R. 7651), H2258 [23FE]

Health care professionals: recognize importance of clinical roles of locum tenens physicians (see H.R. 7686), H2327 [25FE]

HIV/AIDS: establish grant program for States, Tribal governments, Federal health centers, rural health clinics, local governments, and community-based organizations to establish and support PrEP programs (see H.R. 7385), H2031 [4FE]

Immigration: provide nonimmigrant status to nurses working in nursing workforce shortage areas (see H.R. 7351), H2029 [4FE]

Income: prohibit kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers (see H.R. 7895), H2481 [12MR]

Insurance: ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care (see S. 4027), S915 [9MR]

Medicaid: increase minimum monthly personal needs allowance for institutionalized individuals and couples (see H.R. 7778), H2369 [3MR]

Medicare: align payment for specified surgical procedures with high-cost supplies furnished in office-based facilities (see H.R. 7863), H2475 [9MR]

——— allow payments for certain items and services furnished at excepted off-campus outpatient departments of provider to be determined under prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see S. 3908), S681 [25FE] (see H.R. 7666), H2296 [24FE]

——— delay implementation of efficiency adjustment to work relative value units under physician fee schedule (see H.R. 7520), H2217 [12FE]

——— eliminate 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services (see S. 4076), S1046 [12MR]

——— ensure continued designation of certain critical access hospitals (see H.R. 7727), H2332 [26FE]

——— ensure equitable payment for, and preserve beneficiary access to, cancer treatments under hospital outpatient prospective payment system (see H.R. 8032), H2627 [20MR]

——— establish certain standards and requirements relative to financial assistance and medical debt collection for participating hospitals (see H.R. 7478), H2118 [10FE]

——— establish definition of essential health system (see H.R. 7145), H924 [16JA]

——— establish provider directory requirements, and provide accountability for provider director accuracy, under Medicare Advantage (see S. 3750), S377 [29JA]

——— expand eligibility for incentives under health professional shortage area bonus program to practitioners furnishing mental health and substance use disorder services (see H.R. 7324), H1975 [3FE]

——— expand scope of practitioners eligible for payment for telehealth services (see S. 3834), S577 [11FE]

——— improve access to mental health services (see S. 4202), S1614 [25MR]

——— increase floor for practice expense and work geographic indices for certain areas (see S. 3688), S257 [15JA]

——— limit geographic reclassification of certain hospitals (see H.R. 7409), H2041 [5FE]

——— modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see H.R. 8091), H2711 [25MR]

——— prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in Medicare program (see S. 4085), S1047 [12MR] (see H.R. 7920), H2482 [12MR]

——— provide coverage for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) furnished by pharmacists (see H.R. 7189), H1171 [21JA]

——— provide for prior authorization reforms under Medicare Advantage program (see S. 3762), S470 [3FE]

——— require hospitals to develop discharge plans for pregnant individuals (see H.R. 7830), H2470 [5MR]

Medicare/Medicaid: ensure appropriate approval for certain skilled nursing facility and nursing facility nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs (see H.R. 7096), H919 [15JA]

——— streamline care delivery in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities (see H.R. 7106), H919 [15JA]

——— streamline certification process for State Veterans Homes by allowing certain facilities certified by Dept. of Veterans Affairs to be deemed in compliance with specified Medicare and Medicaid requirements (see H.R. 7747), H2335 [2MR]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: ensure taxpayer funds for health insurance coverage are available only to U.S. citizens, nationals, or aliens lawfully present (see H.R. 7817), H2470 [5MR]

Pharmaceuticals: prohibit pharmacy benefit managers, insurers, and prescription drug or medical device wholesalers from being under common ownership with certain medical service providers (see S. 3822), S552 [10FE]

Rodney C. Hamilton Sr., VA Clinic, Lafayette, LA: designate (see S. 3689), S290 [27JA] (see H.R. 6963), H134 [7JA]

Social Security: adjust minimum monthly personal needs allowances for institutionalized individuals and couples under SSI program (see H.R. 7573), H2224 [13FE]

Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic, Des Moines, IA: designate (see S. 3837), S577 [11FE] (see H.R. 7511), H2186 [11FE]

Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic, Marshalltown, IA: designate (see S. 3837), S577 [11FE] (see H.R. 7511), H2186 [11FE]

Taxation: provide tax credit to health care professionals that provide health care services in qualifying facilities (see H.R. 7884), H2476 [9MR]

——— revoke tax-exempt status of organizations that provide, or provide funding for, abortion (see H.R. 7286), H1921 [30JA]

Motions

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: disapprove rule entitled ‘‘Reproductive Health Services’’ (S.J. Res. 103), S1609 [25MR]

Remarks in House

Abortion: limit restrictions on provision of abortion services to protect women’s right to determine whether to continue or end pregnancy and protect health providers ability to provide reproductive services (H.R. 12), H1134 [21JA]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Rural Health Transformation Program funding, H229 [8JA]

Charlottesville, VA: tribute to Charlottesville Hyperbarics, H2206 [12FE]

Children and youth: prohibit funding for gender transition procedures, H2611 [19MR]

Connelly, Tim: Georgia Hospital Association Physician Hero Award recipient, H697 [13JA]

Dept. of Justice: provide funding to Bureau of Prisons, States, and localities to carry out mental health screenings and provide referrals to mental healthcare providers for certain corrections officers (H.R. 2305), H1128 [21JA]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: proposal to cut nurses and medical staff positions, H802 [14JA]

——— suicide prevention funding, H2376 [4MR]

Dickson City, PA: tribute to first responders for response to fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City, H2085 [9FE]

FDA: establish expedited process for approval of certain biologics license application supplements for blood centers (H.R. 5791), H1158 [21JA]

Foreign aid: prohibit assistance to nonprofits, foreign nongovernmental organizations, and quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations that promote or perform abortions, H1342 [22JA]

FTC: prescribe rules prohibiting disinformation in advertising of abortion services (H.R. 846), H1137 [21JA]

Gloucester, VA: tribute to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital inclusion in Chartis Center for Rural Health Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list, E207 [12MR]

Hanley, Matt: inclusion in Georgia Trend Magazine 100 Most Influential Georgians list, H2207 [12FE]

Los Angeles, CA: anniversary of Arroyo Vista Family Health Center, E56 [20JA]

Medicaid: streamline enrollment of certain providers across State lines, H2535 [17MR]

Medicare: reform Medicare Advantage program, H1169 [21JA], H2027 [4FE]

——— reform Medicare Advantage program (H.R. 3467), H715 [13JA], H2180 [11FE], H2465 [5MR]

National Area Health Education Centers Week: observance, E258 [24MR]

Pasco County, FL: Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center recipient of National Community Development Association Audrey Nelson Community Development Award, E8 [7JA]

Pawtucket, RI: condemn shooting at hockey game, honor victims and survivors, and commend first responders, H2307 [25FE]

Pennsylvania State University: tribute to IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) to raise money for Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital Four Diamonds Fund, H2240 [23FE]

Pharmaceuticals: improve services provided by pharmacy benefit managers, H2237 [23FE]

Public welfare programs: allow States to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program funds for security at childcare facilities, H1145, H1146 [21JA]

Rural areas: rural community hospitals funding, H105 [7JA]

Tippett, Tracey A.: Michigan Marine of the Year award recipient and Iron Mountain, MI, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Hall of Heroes inductee, E9 [7JA]

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center: tribute to Quality Oncology Practice Initiative certification, H2083 [9FE]

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA): anniversary, E108 [4FE]

Warrenton, VA: Fauquier Hospital recipient of Leapfrog Group (organization) Top General Hospital Award, H618 [12JA]

——— opening of Puller Veterans Care Center, H618 [12JA]

West Haverstraw, NY: anniversary of Helen Hayes Hospital, H941 [20JA]

Women: ensure protection of reproductive health rights, H1131 [21JA]

Remarks in Senate

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Rural Health Transformation Program funding, S21 [6JA], S63 [7JA]

Crime: prohibit genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors, S1072–S1074 [17MR], S1329, S1332 [19MR], S1420 [20MR], S1526 [23MR]

Dept. of HHS: designate areas as Health Investment Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas (S. 3840), S579 [11FE]

——— issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as routine procedure for patients experiencing overdose (S. 921), S459 [3FE], S1559, S1560 [23MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: disapprove rule entitled ‘‘Reproductive Health Services’’ (S.J. Res. 103), S1607–S1609 [25MR]

Health: assessment of socialized medicine health care system, S3 [5JA]

Iowa: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Rural Health Transformation Fund grant recipient, S19 [6JA]

Medicaid: require States report abortion data to CDC to receive certain family planning funding (S. 178), S284 [27JA]

——— streamline enrollment of certain providers across State lines (S. 752), S666 [25FE]

National Area Health Education Centers Week: observance, S1610 [25MR]

One Big Beautiful Bill Act: impact, S979 [11MR]

Senate: legislative priorities, S560 [11FE]

Reports filed

Dept. of HHS Guidance on Whether Hospital Emergency Departments Should Implement Fentanyl Testing as Routine Procedure for Patients Experiencing Overdose: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 921), S343 [28JA]

Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 3315), S1544 [23MR]

Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 2169), S343 [28JA]

Texts of

S. 921, issue Dept. of HHS guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as routine procedure for patients experiencing overdose, S1559 [23MR]

S. 4202, Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act, S1616 [25MR]