Hospitals & Health Systems

Section 2(a) authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a hospital under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Rio Grande Valley sector, Texas, which directly benefits the hospitals and health systems industry by creating a new VA hospital.

Title II includes substantial funding for Medicaid ($468.6B), Medicare trust funds ($686.8B), HRSA programs (e.g., $1.8B for primary health care), and hospital-specific provisions like $100M for payments to eligible hospitals with <50 beds and wage index <0.90 (rural health flexibility grants).

Section 2 authorizes a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Louis, Missouri, including construction of a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages, with an appropriation of $1,762,668,000. This constitutes a clear benefit (subsidy/contract) to hospitals and health systems involved in the project.

Section 2 extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program from 15 to 20 years, providing continued funding and support for rural community hospitals, which are part of the hospitals and health systems industry.

Section 2(a) directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans through a health care provider described in 38 U.S.C. § 1703(c)(5), which includes non-VA medical facilities. This creates demand for HBOT services, benefiting hospitals and health systems that provide such therapy.

Section 1(a)(1)(C) amends the Public Health Service Act to insert 'and other relevant Federal departments and agencies' in subsection (c), which could increase coordination and funding for hospitals and health systems involved in TBI surveillance and treatment.

Section 2(a) removes Medicaid coverage exclusion for inmates pending disposition of charges, expanding Medicaid eligibility and increasing demand for hospital and health system services for this population. Section 3 provides planning grants to states to support medical assistance under Medicaid for this population, including developing provider networks and infrastructure, directly benefiting hospitals and health systems that will treat these patients.

Section 1 reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program through fiscal years 2026-2030, providing continued funding for training health and wellness responders, which benefits hospitals and health systems by supporting workforce training and wellness initiatives.

Section 2(a)(1)(A) adds fertility treatment benefits to Federal employee health benefit plans, which will increase demand for assisted reproductive services provided by hospitals and health systems.

Section 3(a)(1) requires approval of leave for non-covered reproductive health care (including abortion and assisted reproductive technology) and Section 3(b) provides reimbursement for travel, meals, lodging, and transportation for such care, which would increase demand for services at hospitals and health systems providing these procedures.

Section 2 establishes Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate care between VA clinicians and community care providers, which includes hospitals and health systems providing cancer care to veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program (Section 2(b)(2)). This expands the role and likely increases demand for services from hospitals and health systems that contract with the VA.

Section 2 permanently extends CHIP funding, which increases reimbursement for pediatric services provided by hospitals and health systems.

Section 2201 extends increased inpatient hospital payment adjustment for certain low-volume hospitals, providing a benefit to hospitals and health systems.

Section 1 amends Section 340G(f) of the Public Health Service Act to increase funding for a grant program addressing dental workforce needs from $13,903,000 to $15,000,000 per fiscal year (2026-2030). This provides financial support to dental health programs, which are typically administered by or through hospitals and health systems, thereby benefiting the hospitals_health_systems industry.

Section 2(a)(2) amends title 38 to require the Director to ensure rural veterans may access patient advocate services, including assigning advocates to rural community-based outpatient clinics, which benefits VA medical facilities and associated health systems.

Section 2(a)(1)(A)-(D) amends title 38 to require VA to furnish dental care as any other medical service, expanding dental benefits for veterans, which will increase demand for dental services provided by hospitals and health systems.

Section 2(a) extends medical care coverage for caregivers designated as primary providers of personal care services for veterans, including during the 180-day period following removal of designation, which would increase utilization of medical services provided by hospitals and health systems.

Section 2 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update VHA Directive 1123 to recognize CRNAs as licensed independent practitioners consistent with Defense Health Agency standards, which expands scope of practice for anesthesia providers in VA facilities, benefiting hospitals and health systems that employ CRNAs by allowing greater utilization and flexibility in anesthesia care delivery.

Section 2(a) directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to eligible mental health care providers (non-profit outpatient facilities) for provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care for veterans. This provides financial support (grants) to outpatient mental health facilities, which are part of the hospitals & health systems industry.

Section 3(8) requires that prior authorization and adverse determinations be made by physicians, which reduces administrative burden on hospitals and health systems when seeking Medicare approvals for services, thus providing a benefit.

Section 2(a)-(c) reauthorizes and amends Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development, and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement grant programs through FY2030, providing funding to rural health providers including hospitals and health systems.

Section 2(a)-(k) establishes a pilot program awarding grants to nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, which may increase demand for veterinary services and related health care support, benefiting organizations involved in animal health and potentially overlapping with health systems that provide integrated care.

Section 2(a) limits deferral or transfer of Federal funds made available for the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring continued funding for VA healthcare services, which benefits hospitals and health systems that partner with or receive referrals from the VA.

Section 2(a) adds subsection (h) to Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, creating a point of order against reconciliation measures that reduce enrollment or benefits for individuals enrolled in Medicaid. This protects Medicaid funding, which benefits hospitals and health systems that rely on Medicaid reimbursements.

Section 2(b)(2) adds subparagraph (H) to the Solid Start Program, requiring education of veterans about mental health and counseling services available through the Veterans Health Administration, which will increase demand for mental health services provided by hospitals and health systems within the VA network.

Section 5(b) directs HHS to establish centers providing assessment, counseling, and treatment for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, which will increase demand for health services and benefit hospitals and health systems.

Section 3(a)(1)(B) adds peripheral artery disease screening tests to Medicare coverage under Section 1861(s)(2)(KK), and Section 3(c)(1)(A)(iii) provides payment of 100% of the lesser of actual charge or amount determined under section 1848 for such tests, increasing utilization and revenue for hospitals providing these services.

Section 2(a) adds pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage, and Section 2(b) sets payment rates for such services, which could increase utilization of pharmacy-based care and potentially reduce burden on hospitals for certain services like testing/treatment for COVID-19, flu, RSV, or strep throat.

Section 2(a)(4) adds 'other eligible provider' meaning nurse practitioner or physician assistant; Section 2(b)(1)(A) inserts 'or other eligible provider' after 'physician' in section 8103(a), expanding reimbursable services under federal workers' compensation, benefiting hospitals and health systems employing these providers.

Section 2 establishes the Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration, which will develop standards of care, provide technical assistance to medical facilities, and promote expansion of clinical and research activities related to falls prevention, directly benefiting hospitals and health systems that serve veterans.

Section 2 reauthorizes the Healthy Start Initiative with $145 million per fiscal year 2026-2030, providing federal funding to community-based maternal and child health programs often administered by hospitals and health systems, representing a clear benefit.

Section 2 authorizes VA physicians to serve as traveling physicians in U.S. territories, providing health care to veterans at Department facilities or other approved facilities, which could increase demand for health services and coordination with non-Department medical providers, benefiting hospitals and health systems in those territories.

Section 2(a) establishes an electronic process for scheduling appointments with non-Department health care providers under the Veterans Community Care Program, which expands access and utilization of private health care providers, benefiting hospitals and health systems that participate in the program.

Section 2 authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a supply chain management system for medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, directly benefiting VA hospitals and health systems through improved inventory management.

Section 3(a)(2)(A)(iii) adds increasing the number of faculty and students at schools of nursing to address nursing workforce shortages; Section 3(a)(2)(B)(iv) adds partnering with health care facilities, nurse-managed health clinics, community health centers, or other facilities providing health care to provide education opportunities for establishing or expanding clinical education. These provisions support hospitals and health systems by expanding nursing education and clinical training capac

Section 3(a) conveys property to Southcentral Foundation (SCF) for use in health and social services programs, directly benefiting a health system operator.

Section 2(a) requires the Secretary to submit annual reports on hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished by the Veterans Health Administration, which will increase transparency and potentially drive improvements in care delivery, benefiting hospitals and health systems that contract with or provide services to the VA.

Section 2 establishes an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service to create pipelines, oversee residency programs, and coordinate with academic institutions, which will benefit hospitals and health systems by increasing trained healthcare professionals.

Section 2(b)(2) authorizes grants to eligible entities (including health care providers) to disseminate knowledge and build capacity for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias care, which benefits hospitals and health systems by providing funding for training and capacity building.

Section 2(a) prohibits the VA from collecting health care copayments from veterans under certain conditions, which reduces revenue loss for VA hospitals and health systems providing care to veterans, thereby benefiting hospitals and health systems that rely on VA payments.

Section 2 expands temporary licensure for contract health care professionals performing VA disability exams, increasing demand for such professionals likely employed by hospitals/health systems contracting with VA.

Title VI, Defense Health Program: $40,917,184,000 appropriated for medical and health care programs of the Department of Defense, which includes funding for military hospitals and health systems.

Section 2(a) requires Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to reimburse the VA for health care items or services provided to veterans, including outpatient and inpatient care, prescription drugs, medical devices, lab testing, and post-acute and long-term care settings. This creates a new revenue stream for VA providers and potentially for hospitals and health systems that contract with the VA or provide similar services, as it ensures payment for services rendered to veterans enrolled

Section 2(d) requires automatic enrollment of eligible veterans in the VA patient enrollment system, which will increase demand for VA healthcare services, benefiting hospitals and health systems that provide care to veterans, including VA facilities and contracted providers.

Section 702 of Title VII allows the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer funds to the Working Capital Fund for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, and for the improvement, delivery, and implementation of Department financial, administrative, and information technology services, including cloud adoption and migration, of primary benefit to the agencies of the Department of Agriculture. This includes support for rural hospitals via a pilot program in Section 305 of Title III: 'of the

Section 1(a)-(k) reauthorizes funding for health professions education programs (e.g., Centers of Excellence, scholarships, loan repayments, training) through FY2030, which benefits hospitals and health systems by supporting workforce development and training.