CivicIndex

Federal Policy

Healthcare and Public Health

Health policy covers Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, drug pricing, FDA regulation, NIH research funding, and public-health preparedness. Two of every three federal dollars now go to healthcare or income support, making this one of the highest-stakes policy areas.

Committees with jurisdiction

  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • House Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Senate Committee on Finance
  • National Security and International Trade and Finance

Members who specialize in this area

Leadership

Committee members

208 more members on jurisdictional committees not shown.

Recent bills in this area

  • S. 3799 — Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2026

    Latest action:
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 442.

  • S. 1782 — Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act

    Latest action:
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 441.

  • HJRES. 197 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".

    Sponsor:
    Kathy Castor · Democratic · FL
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  • HR. 9364 — FAST Repairs for Wheelchairs Act

    Sponsor:
    Ayanna Pressley · Democratic · MA
    Latest action:
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  • HR. 2715 — Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act

    Latest action:
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 613.

  • S. 4472 — Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026

    Latest action:
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  • S. 1954 — Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act

    Latest action:
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  • SRES. 770 — A resolution designating June 6, 2026, as National Naloxone Awareness Day.

    Sponsor:
    Rick Scott · Republican · FL
    Latest action:
    Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2792; text: CR S2791-2792)

Frequently asked

Which committees handle healthcare?

Senate Finance and House Ways and Means handle Medicare and Medicaid. Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce handle public-health, FDA, and CDC matters. The committees coordinate on major bills like the ACA.

How does Congress affect drug prices?

Through Medicare drug-price negotiation authority (recently created by the Inflation Reduction Act), through FDA approval rules, through patent and exclusivity periods, and through Medicaid drug-rebate formulas. Multiple committees touch each lever.