A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Local Health Care Protection Act of 2026 seeks to create an eligibility exception for the drug discount program. This applies to certain hospitals that fail to meet specific requirements for disproportionate share adjustment percentages due to Medicaid cuts. The exception covers cost reporting periods beginning in fiscal year 2026 and ending no later than September 30, 2030. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General. This study will look into the criteria for covered entities and the impact of declining payments in rural areas.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +3
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
By maintaining drug discount eligibility for certain hospitals, it helps stabilize costs for healthcare providers.
- Scored +3
Does this lower what a hospital stay costs?
The exception helps hospitals maintain access to the drug discount program despite Medicaid-related payment shifts.
- Scored +3
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Ensuring hospital financial stability via drug discounts can help maintain essential services like obstetrics and oncology.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Drug Discount Access for Hospitals: Hospitals that were covered entities on July 3, 2025, may still be deemed "covered entities" for the drug discount program even if they do not meet the disproportionate share adjustment percentage requirement (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
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Information on Essential Services: The Comptroller General will evaluate if declining payments correlate with the loss of critical services like obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, or other essential specialties (Section 2(d)(1)).
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Assessment of Payment Issues: The report will identify underlying causes for declining payment adjustments, such as disability determination accuracy and limited post-acute care capacity in rural or underserved areas (Section 2(d)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Duration of Relief: The eligibility exception for the drug discount program is not permanent, as it is set to end with cost reporting periods ending no later than September 30, 2030 (Section 2(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Ensuring hospital financial stability via drug discounts can help maintain essential services like obstetrics and oncology. Does this lower what a hospital stay costs? — The exception helps hospitals maintain access to the drug discount program despite Medicaid-related payment shifts. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — By maintaining drug discount eligibility for certain hospitals, it helps stabilize costs for healthcare providers. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill helps mitigate the impact of Medicaid cuts on hospital eligibility for drug discounts.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill aims to address the loss of essential medical services in rural areas. Would women be better off under this? — The study specifically evaluates the impact on obstetrics and gynecology services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Ensuring hospital services remain available can protect access for low-income patients. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill directs a study into the accuracy of disability determinations impacting hospital payments.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes a study specifically addressing the impact of declining payments on rural healthcare services.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates a study and report to the Congress to improve understanding of healthcare payment issues.
- 8/20/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House