A Democratic bill with 34 Democratic cosponsors · See all 34 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
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 Glaucoma Vision Act of 2026 requires private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Federal Employees Health Benefits plans to cover annual glaucoma screenings for specified individuals without cost sharing. Specified individuals include adults aged 40 or older with certain ancestries or clinical risk factors, as well as anyone aged 60 or older. The bill also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a grant program to provide free or low-cost screenings and follow-up treatments for uninsured and underinsured high-risk individuals. Additionally, it authorizes grants for research related to glaucoma and optic nerve damage. These changes are generally set to take effect starting on January 1, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 16
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The legislation expands access to annual glaucoma screenings across Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and federal employee plans, and funds community grants for uninsured populations.
- Scored +6
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill ensures Medicare and other health plans cover annual glaucoma screenings for individuals aged 60 and older without cost sharing.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill mandates glaucoma screening coverage under Medicaid without cost sharing and provides grant funding for free or low-cost screenings for uninsured and underinsured populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Private Insurance Coverage: Section 3(a) amends the Public Health Service Act to require private health plans to cover annual glaucoma screenings for specified individuals starting on January 1, 2027, which helps catch vision issues early for people with commercial insurance.
-
Medicare Improvements: Section 3(b) ensures that Medicare covers glaucoma screenings appropriately for specified individuals without certain standard limitations starting on January 1, 2027, making it easier for older adults to monitor their eye health.
-
Medicaid Protections and Benefits: Section 3(c) makes glaucoma screenings a mandatory Medicaid benefit and explicitly prohibits states from imposing deductibles, cost sharing, or similar charges for these screenings starting on January 1, 2027, protecting low-income individuals from out-of-pocket expenses.
-
Federal Employee Benefits: Section 3(d) requires Federal Employees Health Benefits plans to provide glaucoma screening benefits for specified individuals without imposing any cost sharing like copayments or deductibles starting on January 1, 2027.
-
CDC Grants for the Uninsured: Section 4 directs the CDC to expand glaucoma detection and prevention activities by awarding grants to provide free or low-cost screenings and follow-up treatments to uninsured and underinsured high-risk individuals, prioritizing underserved populations and racial and ethnic minority communities.
-
Research Funding: Section 5 authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2028 for research grants focused on optic nerve regeneration, neuroprotection strategies, gene therapies, and stem cell-based therapies to preserve or restore vision.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Burdens Found: The provided text explicitly outlines requirements, grants, and expansions of care, but does not contain any provisions that create negative consequences, penalties, or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill mandates glaucoma screening coverage under Medicaid without cost sharing and provides grant funding for free or low-cost screenings for uninsured and underinsured populations. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill ensures Medicare and other health plans cover annual glaucoma screenings for individuals aged 60 and older without cost sharing. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes African ancestry as a qualifying risk factor for annual screenings starting at age 40 and prioritizes minority communities for grant-funded detection programs. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes Asian ancestry as a qualifying risk factor for annual screenings starting at age 40. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes Hispanic/Latino ancestry as a qualifying risk factor for annual screenings and prioritizes underserved minority communities for detection grants. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill helps detect and prevent vision loss and blindness, directly supporting individuals at risk of or experiencing degenerative eye conditions. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans who meet age or risk factor criteria may benefit from expanded preventative glaucoma screening access under applicable health plans.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation expands access to annual glaucoma screenings across Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and federal employee plans, and funds community grants for uninsured populations. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for research grants related to glaucoma and optic nerve damage. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require private health insurance plans to cover annual glaucoma screenings for specified individuals. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill makes glaucoma screenings a mandatory Medicaid benefit and prohibits cost sharing for these screenings. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill updates Medicare coverage to ensure annual glaucoma screenings for specified individuals without certain payment limitations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill supports preventative screenings and treatments aimed at preventing vision loss and preserving eye health. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill gives priority for CDC detection and prevention grants to racial and ethnic minority communities with high burdens of vision loss. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By eliminating out-of-pocket costs for glaucoma screenings in Medicaid and funding grants for uninsured populations, the bill reduces potential medical financial burdens on low-income individuals.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation authorizes appropriations for advanced research grants related to glaucoma and optic nerve damage, including gene and stem cell therapies.
- 10/22/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 10/19/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/16/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- 24 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Emanuel CleaverDemocrat · Missouri
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Lois FrankelDemocrat · Florida
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Lucy McBathDemocrat · Georgia
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Christian MenefeeDemocrat · Texas
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Brad ShermanDemocrat · California
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Marc VeaseyDemocrat · Texas
Maxine WatersDemocrat · California
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey