Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/138
Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

ID: B001260

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

January 3, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

âś…

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative futility. The "Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025" - because nothing says "lowering costs" like adding more complexity to the tax code.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's stated purpose is to allow expenses for parents to be taken into account as medical expenses, thereby reducing the financial burden on caregivers. How noble. In reality, this is just a thinly veiled attempt to curry favor with the AARP crowd and garner some cheap political points.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends various sections of the Internal Revenue Code to permit expenses for parents to be treated as medical expenses under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs), and Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). Because, you know, what's a few more loopholes in the tax code?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Caregivers, parents, and their spouses will supposedly benefit from this bill. But let's be real, the only ones who'll truly benefit are the politicians who sponsored this bill and the lobbyists who pushed for it. The rest of us will just get to enjoy more bureaucratic red tape.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of treating the symptoms rather than the disease. Instead of addressing the root causes of rising healthcare costs, our intrepid lawmakers are opting for a Band-Aid solution that will only serve to further complicate an already Byzantine tax code. The "Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act" will likely lead to:

* Increased administrative burdens on employers and caregivers * More opportunities for tax avoidance and abuse * A negligible impact on actual healthcare costs

In short, this bill is a perfect example of legislative malpractice - a misguided attempt to treat a complex problem with a simplistic solution. It's a wonder these people can tie their shoes in the morning.

Diagnosis: Terminal Naivety Syndrome (TNS) - a condition characterized by an inability to recognize the inherent flaws in one's own policy proposals. Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism and a strong stomach for bureaucratic nonsense.

Related Topics

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đź’° Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$66,000
15 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
GARCIA, MARIO
2 transactions
$6,600
2
GARCIA, IVIS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
COPELAND, GERRET
2 transactions
$6,600
4
ARISON, MICKY
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ARISON, MADELEINE
2 transactions
$6,600
6
RICHARDS, CHRISTINE
1 transaction
$3,300
7
RICHARDS, DANIEL
1 transaction
$3,300
8
BENJAMIN, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300
9
JOHNSON, TRAVIS
1 transaction
$3,300
10
COPELAND, KYM
1 transaction
$3,300
11
MURRAY, R. CHARLES
1 transaction
$3,300
12
MCGILLICUDDY, DENNIS
1 transaction
$3,300
13
MCGILLICUDDY, GRACI
1 transaction
$3,300
14
ELLER, SCOTT
1 transaction
$3,300
15
RYAN, JOSEPH H
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

ID: T000460

Top Contributors

10

1
ACTBLUE
COM SOMERVILLE, MA
$500
Oct 27, 2024
2
ACTBLUE
COM SOMERVILLE, MA
$30
Nov 3, 2024
3
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND OF MIWOK INDIANS
Organization SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
4
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
Organization BROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
5
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
Organization BROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
6
EASTERN BANK OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Feb 7, 2024
7
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jun 23, 2024
8
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 23, 2023
9
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 23, 2023
10
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
Organization OROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Sep 28, 2024

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

ID: L000599

Top Contributors

10

1
MURTAGH, COSSU, VENDITTI & CASTRO-BLANCO, LLP
Organization WHITE PLAINS, NY
$1,000
Feb 24, 2024
2
BATMASIAN, JAMES
INVESTMENTS LIMITED • OWNER
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
3
BATMASIAN, JAMES
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
4
AUSTIN, ROBERT
UNAKA CO., INC. • BUSINESSMAN
Individual DALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 18, 2024
5
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 15, 2024
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 22, 2024
7
SCALA, MARY ELLEN
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual PORT CHESTER, NY
$5,300
Aug 27, 2023
8
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
SELF • PRESIDENT
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 24, 2024
9
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 25, 2024
10
PERLMUTTER, RAFUEL
GOLDEN TASTE • CEO
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,400
Jun 24, 2024

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

ID: V000133

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$6,781
Jan 26, 2024
2
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$868
Feb 16, 2024
3
ACE LISTENGER ENTERPRISES LLC
Organization LOUISVILLE, KY
$500
Sep 30, 2024
4
SPTWO LLC
Organization NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ
$500
Sep 30, 2024
5
TEC AEROSPACE, LLC
Organization CLAYTON, NJ
$500
Jun 30, 2024
6
FV REDEMPTION LLC
Organization CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ
$500
Jun 27, 2024
7
CHARLES MARANDINO LLC
Organization MILMAY, NJ
$105
May 15, 2024
8
FORMAN, RICHARD P
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual CHERRY HILL, NJ
$6,600
Nov 29, 2023
9
HOLLANDER, SCOTT
PULSE VASCULAR • PHYSICIAN
Individual MULLICA HILL, NJ
$6,600
Feb 16, 2024
10
LAUDEMAN, KEITH MR
COLD SPRING FISH • FISH DEALER
Individual CAPE MAY, NJ
$6,600
May 8, 2023

Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]

ID: D000594

Top Contributors

10

1
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$3,300
Aug 29, 2024
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Aug 29, 2024
3
ALABAMA- COUSHATTA TRIBE
Organization LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Oct 16, 2024
4
ADKINS, JAMES
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual HUNTINGTON, WV
$6,600
Oct 24, 2024
5
MOUSSEAU, RAYMOND
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual CROSWELL, MI
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
6
DILAMANI, EDWARD
AGC • BUSINESSMAN
Individual GREAT NECK, NY
$6,600
Jul 8, 2024
7
EMIG, SUELLEN
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual FREEDOM, PA
$6,600
Sep 29, 2024
8
STEWART, FORREST
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual DESOTO, IL
$6,534
Feb 13, 2024
9
SPECHT, VIVIAN
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual LYMAN, NE
$5,940
Aug 7, 2024
10
CERDA, JULIO
S TEXAS INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP • PARTNER
Individual MISSION, TX
$5,000
Oct 25, 2024

Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]

ID: M001224

Top Contributors

10

1
BORCK, LEON H.
INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES • EXECUTIVE
Individual MANHATTAN, KS
$6,600
Mar 11, 2024
2
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
DMM PROPRIETA MANAGEMENT • MANAGER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Sep 26, 2024
3
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP • MANAGING PARTNER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Sep 26, 2024
4
CATZ, SAFRA
ORACLE CORPORATION • CEO
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
May 5, 2023
5
MISSION INDIANS, MORONGO BAND OF
INDIAN TRIBE • INDIAN TRIBE
Individual BANNING, CA
$5,000
Aug 13, 2024
6
WILLIS, THOMAS M
CONESTOGA ENERGY PARTNERS • CEO
Individual LIBERAL, KS
$5,000
Aug 26, 2024
7
WEILERT, STANLEY R
S&B MOTELS, INC. • HOTELIER
Individual WICHITA, KS
$3,500
Jun 26, 2023
8
BORCK, JACKIE
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY • DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Individual MANHATTAN, KS
$3,300
Mar 11, 2024
9
BORCK, JACKIE
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY • DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Individual MANHATTAN, KS
$3,300
Mar 11, 2024
10
THOMAS, ROBERT
SENIOR STAR • CO-OWNER
Individual TULSA, OK
$3,300
Feb 22, 2024

Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]

ID: A000369

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Dec 2, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$2,500
Dec 18, 2023
4
DUFURRENA SHEEP
Organization WINNEMUCCA, NV
$1,000
Nov 17, 2023
5
RENO-SPARKS INDIAN COLONY
Organization RENO, NV
$1,000
Apr 25, 2024
6
RENO-SPARKS INDIAN COLONY
Organization RENO, NV
$1,000
Sep 26, 2024
7
MERUELO, ALEX
MERUELO GROUP • CEO
Individual DOWNEY, CA
$6,600
Dec 16, 2024
8
KEYES, HOWARD
KEYES MOTORS • AUTO DEALER
Individual MALIBU, CA
$6,600
Dec 19, 2023
9
ROCKENFELLER, PAMELA
ROCKY FITNESS • OWNER
Individual BOULDER CITY, NV
$6,600
Nov 17, 2023
10
ROCKENFELLER, UWE
ROCKY RESEARCH • PRESIDENT
Individual BOULDER CITY, NV
$6,600
Nov 17, 2023

Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]

ID: K000397

Top Contributors

10

1
CHICKASAW NATION
PAC ADA, OK
$1,000
Sep 23, 2024
2
COSTCO
Organization SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$220
Aug 30, 2024
3
META
Organization MENLO PARK, CA
$1,200
Oct 30, 2024
4
MITCHELL PUBLISHING
Organization LOS ANGELES, CA
$689
Oct 30, 2024
5
GOOGLE
Organization MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
$500
Oct 30, 2024
6
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
7
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
8
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
9
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
Organization BELCOURT, ND
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
10
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

ID: M001223

Top Contributors

10

1
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 11, 2023
2
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 11, 2023
3
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
Organization CRANDON, WI
$2,500
Dec 14, 2023
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 9, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Apr 30, 2024
6
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 6, 2023
7
POARCH BANK OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$1,000
Mar 21, 2024
8
SIPPRELLE, SUSAN M.
SELF-EMPLOYED • FILMMAKER
Individual MIDDLETOWN, RI
$3,300
Nov 19, 2023
9
LAVINE, JONATHAN
BAIN CAPITAL • INVESTOR
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023
10
LAVINE, JONATHAN
BAIN CAPITAL • INVESTOR
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023

Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

ID: V000138

Top Contributors

10

1
LUX FOR VIRGINIA
Organization LADYSMITH, VA
$500
Mar 29, 2024
2
LUX FOR VIRGINIA
Organization LADYSMITH, VA
$500
Mar 31, 2024
3
FORSTER-BURKE, DIANE
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
Individual COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT
$4,000
Apr 20, 2024
4
FORSTER-BURKE, DIANE
Individual COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT
$4,000
May 5, 2024
5
VON STEIN, THOMSON
Individual ROCKVILLE, MD
$3,500
Aug 7, 2024
6
HULL, MEGAN
SELF • ACTIVIST
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
7
KAISER, GEORGE
GBK CORPORATION • EXECUTIVE
Individual TULSA, OK
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024
8
PARSONS, KATHLEEN
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
Individual POTOMAC, MD
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
9
STAPLE, HARISE
SELF • MD
Individual LOS ALTOS, CA
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
10
HOLMES, LAURA
SELF • REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024

Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

ID: B001327

Top Contributors

10

1
TAMBUR, ROBERT L.
TFP LIMITED • OWNER
Individual SHAVERTOWN, PA
$13,200
Dec 31, 2023
2
BATMASIAN, JAMES
INVESTMENTS LIMITED • OWNER
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$7,906
Jun 30, 2024
3
BATMASIAN, JAMES
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$7,906
Jun 30, 2024
4
BRESNAHAN, DODIE
WYOMING ELECTRIC SIGNAL INC • VP
Individual PITTSTON, PA
$6,600
Dec 27, 2023
5
CONFORTI, ANGELO
KUHARCHIK CONSTRUCTION LLC • MANAGER
Individual DUPONT, PA
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
6
KUHARCHIK, RHODA
NONE • RETIRED
Individual WEST PITTSTON, PA
$6,600
Dec 30, 2023
7
CAMERON, RONALD
MOUNTAIRE CORP • CHAIRMAN
Individual LITTLE ROCK, AR
$6,600
Feb 9, 2024
8
EMMET, RICHARD
NONE • RETIRED
Individual LARCHMONT, NY
$6,600
Feb 22, 2024
9
GILLIAM, RICHARD
CUMBERLAND DEVELOPMENT • MANAGER
Individual CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
$6,600
Feb 8, 2024
10
GRIFFIN, KENNETH
CITADEL • CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$6,600
Apr 1, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 33 nodes and 35 connections

Total contributions: $119,579

Top Donors - Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

Showing top 15 donors by contribution amount

15 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document. Higher similarity scores indicate stronger thematic connections.

Introduction

Low 56.7%
Pages: 497-499

— 465 — Department of Health and Human Services 1. Make Medicare Advantage the default enrollment option. 2. Give beneficiaries direct control of how they spend Medicare dollars. 3. Remove burdensome policies that micromanage MA plans. 4. Replace the complex formula-based payment model with a competitive bidding model. 5. Reconfigure the current risk adjustment model. 6. Remove restrictions on key benefits and services, including those related to prescription drugs, hospice care, and medical savings account plans.26 Legacy Medicare Reform. Legislation reforming legacy (non-MA) Medicare should: l Base payments on the health status of the patient or intensity of the service rather than where the patient happens to receive that service. l Replace the bureaucrat-driven fee-for-service system with value- based payments to empower patients to find the care that best serves their needs. l Codify price transparency regulations. l Restructure 340B drug subsidies27 toward beneficiaries rather than hospitals. l Repeal harmful health policies enacted under the Obama and Biden Administrations such as the Medicare Shared Savings Program28 and Inflation Reduction Act.29 Medicare Part D Reform. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created a drug price negotiation program in Medicare that replaced the existing private-sector negotiations in Part D with government price controls for prescription drugs. These government price controls will limit access to medications and reduce patient access to new medication. This “negotiation” program should be repealed, and reforms in Part D that will have meaningful impact for seniors should be pursued. Other reforms should include eliminating the coverage gap in Part D, reducing the government share in — 466 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise the catastrophic tier, and requiring manufacturers to bear a larger share. Until the IRA is repealed, an Administration that is required to implement it must do so in a way that is prudent with its authority, minimizing the harmful effects of the law’s policies and avoiding even worse unintended consequences.30 Medicaid. Over the past 45 years, Medicaid and the health safety net have evolved into a cumbersome, complicated, and unaffordable burden on nearly every state. The program is failing some of the most vulnerable patients; is a prime target for waste, fraud, and abuse; and is consuming more of state and federal budgets. The dramatic increase in Medicaid expenditures is due in large part to the ACA (Obamacare), which mandates that states must expand their Medicaid eligibility standards to include all individuals at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and the public health emergency, which has prohibited states from performing basic eligibility reviews. The overlap of available benefits among the various health agencies has led to a complex, confusing system that is nearly impossible to navigate—even for recipients. Recipients are often faced with a “welfare cliff” of benefit losses as they earn above a certain amount, which is contrary to the fundamental purpose of empowering individuals to achieve economic independence. Benefits increasingly involve nonmedical services such as air conditioning and housing, many of which are already handled by departments other than HHS. Improper payments within Medicaid are higher than those of any other federal program. These payments are evidence of the inappropriateness of Medicaid’s expansion, which, stemming largely from public health emergency maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements and the Affordable Care Act, has crowded out the primary targets of these programs: those who are most in need. True health care reform cannot be accomplished in a bureaucratic silo or only through Medicaid and health safety net programs. Reform of the tax code is also essential to genuine, effective reform of our health care system. All components of the health care system should be part of the reform efforts, and it is imperative that the system be modified to assist states with their current programs. Therefore, the next Administration should: l Reform financing. Allow states to have a more flexible, accountable, predictable, transparent, and efficient financing mechanism to deliver medical services. This system should include a more balanced or blended match rate, block grants, aggregate caps, or per capita caps. Any financial system should be designed to encourage and incentivize innovation and the efficient delivery of health care services. Federal and state financial participation in the Medicaid program should be rational, predictable, and reasonable. It should also incentivize states to save money and improve the quality of health care.

Introduction

Low 53.4%
Pages: 503-505

— 470 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise from the subsidized market, giving the non-subsidized market regulatory relief from the costly ACA regulatory mandates.39 l Strengthen hospital price transparency. In 2020, CMS completed its rule to require hospitals to post the prices of common hospital procedures.40 Future updates of these rules should focus on including quality measures. Combined with the shared savings models and other consumer tools, these efforts could deliver considerable savings for consumers.41 Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCHO). CMS also plays an outsized role in overseeing the Obamacare exchanges, includ- ing managing Healthcare.gov, through the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). While Obamacare limits plan options, CCIIO has been overly prescriptive in dictating what benefits and types of health plans may participate in the exchanges, thereby actually stifling market innovation and driv- ing up costs. Congress should build on the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand choices for small businesses and workers, both in and out of the exchanges, by codifying an expansion of association health plans, short-term health plans, and health reim- bursement arrangements (including individual coverage HRAs). CCIIO should also work with the Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to give consumers more flexibility with their health care dollars through expanded access to health savings accounts. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS l Expand the scope of practice of low-complexity and moderate- complexity clinical laboratories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing laboratories greater regulatory flexibility regarding CLIA requirements increased access to testing. However, the need for regulatory flexibility is not limited to emergency situations. Ongoing innovations in medical care will continue to drive demand for clinical testing and new tests. One way that increasing demand for other medical services has been accommodated is by revising restrictions on scope of practice to enable providers to practice at the so-called top of their license. CMS should similarly revise CLIA rules regarding scope of practice for clinical laboratories and testing personnel.42 l Create CLIA-certification-equivalent pathways for non-clinical laboratories and researchers. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that the U.S. needs to leverage the expertise of non-clinical laboratories and researchers in order to bolster clinical testing capacity. To accomplish this,

Introduction

Low 53.4%
Pages: 503-505

— 470 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise from the subsidized market, giving the non-subsidized market regulatory relief from the costly ACA regulatory mandates.39 l Strengthen hospital price transparency. In 2020, CMS completed its rule to require hospitals to post the prices of common hospital procedures.40 Future updates of these rules should focus on including quality measures. Combined with the shared savings models and other consumer tools, these efforts could deliver considerable savings for consumers.41 Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCHO). CMS also plays an outsized role in overseeing the Obamacare exchanges, includ- ing managing Healthcare.gov, through the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). While Obamacare limits plan options, CCIIO has been overly prescriptive in dictating what benefits and types of health plans may participate in the exchanges, thereby actually stifling market innovation and driv- ing up costs. Congress should build on the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand choices for small businesses and workers, both in and out of the exchanges, by codifying an expansion of association health plans, short-term health plans, and health reim- bursement arrangements (including individual coverage HRAs). CCIIO should also work with the Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to give consumers more flexibility with their health care dollars through expanded access to health savings accounts. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS l Expand the scope of practice of low-complexity and moderate- complexity clinical laboratories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing laboratories greater regulatory flexibility regarding CLIA requirements increased access to testing. However, the need for regulatory flexibility is not limited to emergency situations. Ongoing innovations in medical care will continue to drive demand for clinical testing and new tests. One way that increasing demand for other medical services has been accommodated is by revising restrictions on scope of practice to enable providers to practice at the so-called top of their license. CMS should similarly revise CLIA rules regarding scope of practice for clinical laboratories and testing personnel.42 l Create CLIA-certification-equivalent pathways for non-clinical laboratories and researchers. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that the U.S. needs to leverage the expertise of non-clinical laboratories and researchers in order to bolster clinical testing capacity. To accomplish this, — 471 — Department of Health and Human Services CMS should create pathways for granting non-clinical laboratories and their testing personnel CLIA certification equivalency. Non-clinical researchers already demonstrate their technical expertise through online training and certification programs. CMS should build on that existing framework so that those laboratories and personnel can similarly demonstrate their clinical testing capabilities.43 LIFE, CONSCIENCE, AND BODILY INTEGRITY l Prohibit abortion travel funding. Providing funding for abortions increases the number of abortions and violates the conscience and religious freedom rights of Americans who object to subsidizing the taking of life. The Hyde Amendment44 has long prohibited the use of HHS funds for elective abortions, but an August 2022 Biden executive order45 pressed the HHS Secretary to use his authority under Section 1115 demonstrations to waive certain provisions of the law in order to use taxpayer funds to achieve the Administration’s goal of helping women to travel out of state to obtain abortions. Moreover, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (DOJ OLC) issued a politicized legal opinion declaring, for the first time in the history of Hyde, that this action did not violate the Hyde Amendment and that Hyde applies only to the performance of the abortion itself in violation of the plainly broad language that Congress used. Two of the first actions of a pro-life Administration should be for HHS to withdraw the Medicaid guidance (and any Section 1115 waivers issued thereunder) and for DOJ OLC to withdraw and disavow its interpretation of the Hyde Amendment. l Prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds. During the 2020–2021 reporting period, Planned Parenthood performed more than 383,000 abortions.46 The national organization reported more than $133 million in excess revenue47 and more than $2.1 billion in net assets.48 During this same year, Planned Parenthood reports that its affiliates received more than $633 million in government funding and more than $579 million in private contributions.49 Planned Parenthood affiliates face accusations of waste, abuse and potential fraud with taxpayer dollars, failure to report the sexual abuse of minor girls, and allegations of profiting from the sale of organs from aborted babies. Policymakers should end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and all other abortion providers and redirect funding to health centers that provide real health care for women. The bulk of federal funding for Planned

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.