BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS INC

HCR · Health Issues

Affordable Care Act (ACA), ACA subsidies and tax credits; Telehealth/ telehealth flexibilities; ACA Fraud;  Transparency in coverage; Surprise Billing; 2025 Proposed NBPP/Individual Market/ACA exchanges; Rural healthcare; Prior Authorization; Hospital Consolidation; Employer-provided health coverage; Cyber Attack/ Cyber Security Maternal Health; Hospital Billing; Anti-tiering, Anti-steering; Federal Budget Process; Artificial Intelligence; Vaccine Coverage; Marketplace Renewal Notices; Food as Medicine; Individual Market Reforms and eAPTC Extension; Health Savings Accounts; Critical Access Hospitals; Healthcare workforce shortage S. 1451 Healthy Competition for Better Care Act (118th) To ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] H.R.3120 - Healthy Competition for Better Care Act (118th) To ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care. Sponsor: Rep. Steel, Michelle [R-CA-45] S.2903 - Safe Step Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] H.R.3417 - FAIR Act (118th) To ensure fair billing practices for items and services furnished by off-campus outpatient departments of a provider. Sponsor: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1] (118th) H.R. 5378 Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (118th) To promote price transparency in the health care sector, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5] H.R.2483 - Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act To reauthorize certain programs that provide for opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] S.2121 - SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 To reauthorize certain programs that provide for opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] H.R.1909 - Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for State-based maternal mortality review committees, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate best practices on maternal mortality prevention to hospitals, State-based professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] H.R.1197 - PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 To reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act. Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] S.46 - Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan. Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] H.R.247 - Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan. Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] H.R.3237 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require each off-campus outpatient department of a provider to include a unique identifier on claims for items and services, and to require providers with a department of a provider to submit to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an attestation with respect to each such department. Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] S.5535 - No Surprises Act Enforcement Act To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase penalties for group health plans and health insurance issuers for practices that violate balance billing requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] H.R.2079 - Insurance Fraud Accountability Act To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to reduce fraudulent enrollments in qualified health plans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] S.976 - Insurance Fraud Accountability Act To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to reduce fraudulent enrollments in qualified health plans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] H.R.4710 - No Surprises Act Enforcement Act To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase penalties for group health plans and health insurance issuers for practices that violate balance billing requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3] S.2420 - No Surprises Act Enforcement Act To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase penalties for group health plans, health insurance issuers, and nonparticipating providers or facilities for practices that violate balance billing requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] H.R.3841 - Healthcare Cybersecurity Act of 2025 To enhance the cybersecurity of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. Sponsor: Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] S.1851 - Healthcare Cybersecurity Act of 2025 To enhance the cybersecurity of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] H.R.3419 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. Sponsor: Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] H.R.2493 - Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 To reauthorize certain programs regarding rural health care. Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] S.2301 - Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025 To reauthorize certain programs regarding rural health care. Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] H.R.3593 - Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] S.1874 - Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] H.R.2528 - Association Health Plans Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to clarify the treatment of certain association health plans as employers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5] S.2355 - Patients Deserve Price Tags Act To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency. Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] H.R.2509 - COMPLETE Care Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide incentives for behavioral health integration. Sponsor: Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] S.931 - COMPLETE Care Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide incentives for behavioral health integration. Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] H.R.6703 - Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act To ensure access to affordable health insurance. Sponsor: Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] S.2497 - Fair Billing Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require a separate identification number and an attestation for each off-campus outpatient department of a provider. Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] H.R.5972 - Right to Enroll Act of 2025 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to extend the annual open enrollment period for enrolling in a qualified health plan offered by an Exchange for plan year 2026. Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] H.R.6232 - HOPE Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the enhanced premium tax credit, and to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make certain adjustments to the operation of the Exchanges established under such Act. Sponsor: Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] S.958 - Tech to Save Moms Act To support the use of technology in maternal health care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM] H.R.5463 - Choice Arrangement To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of employer-provided health reimbursement arrangements that are integrated with individual market coverage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1]

Literal federal measure citations: S. 1451, H.R.3120, S.2903, H.R.3417, H.R. 5378, H.R.2483, S.2121, H.R.1909, H.R.1197, S.46, H.R.247, H.R.3237, S.5535, H.R.2079, S.976, H.R.4710, S.2420, H.R.3841, S.1851, H.R.3419, H.R.2493, S.2301, H.R.3593, S.1874, H.R.2528, S.2355, H.R.2509, S.931, H.R.6703, S.2497, H.R.5972, H.R.6232, S.958, H.R.5463

MMM · Medicare/Medicaid

Same-day billing restrictions in Medicaid; Medicare Advantage & MA Rate Notice; Medicare/Transparency; Medicaid Cuts; Mental Health Care, Youth Mental Health; Site neutral payment reform; Community Health Index reward factor; Community Health Index for MA plans; Medicaid Provider Taxes; MA Reform H.R.5746 - Addressing Whole Health in Medicare Advantage Act (118th) To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the availability of supplemental benefits to certain Medicare Advantage enrollees. Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] H.R. 7996, Improving CARE for Youth Act (118th) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure Medicaid coverage of mental health services and primary care services furnished on the same day. Sponsor: Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] S.2556 - Improving CARE for Youth Act (118th) To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure Medicaid coverage of mental health services and primary care services furnished on the same day. Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE] H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act This bill reduces taxes, reduces or increases spending for various federal programs, increases the statutory debt limit, and otherwise addresses agencies and programs throughout the federal government.   Sponsor: Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] S.1105 - No UPCODE Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage. Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] H.R.668 - Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] S.506 - Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans who are enrolled in both the Medicare program and the VA health care system. Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] H.R.842 - Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of multi-cancer early detection screening tests. Sponsor: Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] S.141 - Connected MOM Act To identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] H.R.4977 - Connected MOM Act To identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Sponsor: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] S.2289 - Healthy Moms and Babies Act To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to improve maternal health coverage under Medicaid and CHIP, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.5746, H.R. 7996, S.2556, H.R.1, S.1105, H.R.668, S.506, H.R.842, S.141, H.R.4977, S.2289

PHA · Pharmacy

340B Program/Transparency; generics access; Pharmacy Benefit Managers; Prescription Drug Cost; Step Therapy H.R.3839 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to increase transparency in generic drug applications. To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to increase transparency in generic drug applications. Sponsor: Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] S. 1067, Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act (118th) To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to citizen petitions. Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] S.1041 - Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to address the infringement of patents that claim biological products, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] S.1040 - Drug Competition Enhancement Act A bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit product hopping, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] S.1096 - Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, and to prohibit biological product manufacturers from compensating biosimilar and interchangeable companies to delay the entry of biosimilar biological products and interchangeable biological products. Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] S.1095 - Stop STALLING Act A bill to enable the Federal Trade Commission to deter filing of sham citizen petitions to cover an attempt to interfere with approval of a competing generic drug or biosimilar, to foster competition, and facilitate the efficient review of petitions filed in good faith to raise legitimate public health concerns, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

Literal federal measure citations: H.R.3839, S. 1067, S.1041, S.1040, S.1096, S.1095