A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
This bill establishes the "Health Investment Zones Act of 2026" to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in specific areas. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will designate these zones based on applications from community-based nonprofits or local government agencies. To qualify, an area must demonstrate documented health disparities through factors like low income or lower life expectancy. The Act provides several incentives, including tax credits for workers, grants for community organizations, and a student loan repayment program for practitioners. Additionally, it creates incentive payments for certain Medicare Part B items and services provided within these zones. The goal is to improve health services delivery and increase provider capacity in underserved regions.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill expands healthcare capacity through practitioner loan repayments, grants for mobile clinics, and increased Medicare incentives.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets areas with income levels below 150 percent of the federal poverty line to improve services.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Increased Medicare incentive payments for wellness visits and screenings benefit the elderly population.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Tax Incentives for Workers: The bill provides a work opportunity credit for qualified Health Investment Zone workers to encourage employment in these areas (Section 3(a)). Additionally, there is a tax credit equal to 30 percent of wages received for qualified Health Investment Zone work (Section 3(b)).
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Financial Support for Health Communities: The Secretary may award grants to community-based nonprofit organizations or local government agencies to support plans that reduce health disparities and improve outcomes (Section 4(a)).
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Support for Healthcare Practitioners: Grant funds may be used for subgrants to healthcare practitioners to help with costs related to innovative strategies (Section 4(b)(1)). There is also a student loan repayment program that allows the Secretary to make payments on the principal and interest of eligible educational loans for practitioners who agree to provide full-time services in a zone (Section 5(a) and 5(d)).
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Increased Healthcare Access and Services: Grants may fund various innovative strategies, such as mobile clinics, transportation to medical appointments, and improved access to healthy food, recreation, and high-quality housing (Section 4(b)(2)).
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Medicare Payment Incentives: For items and services furnished under Medicare Part B in a designated zone, an additional payment of 10 percent may be paid (Section 6(a)(1)(A)). Certain services, such as annual wellness visits or preventative screenings, also qualify for these additional payments (Section 6(a)(1)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Application Requirements and Competition: To receive a designation or grant, organizations must submit an effective and sustainable plan that includes specific disease indicators, such as diabetes or asthma (Section 2(d)).
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Student Loan Repayment Limits: The student loan repayment program is subject to specific limits, where the Secretary may not pay more than $10,000 per year or more than a total of $100,000 for a single practitioner (Section 5(b)).
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Restrictions on Loan Repayment: Borrowers cannot receive payments from this program for the same service provided by another federally supported loan program, and they cannot receive payments for loans that have already been forgiven or cancelled (Section 5(c)).
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 specifically targets areas with income levels below 150 percent of the federal poverty line to improve services. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The Secretary is encouraged to outreach to rural areas for health investment zone designation. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Increased Medicare incentive payments for wellness visits and screenings benefit the elderly population. Would children be better off under this? — The bill addresses low birth weight and maternal health as part of its health outcomes goals.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill expands healthcare capacity through practitioner loan repayments, grants for mobile clinics, and increased Medicare incentives. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Grants may be used to fund mental and behavioral health mobile clinics in designated zones. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill increases Medicare payments for specific items and services provided within health investment zones.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Tax credits for hiring in health investment zones are intended to incentivize employment in those areas. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By targeting underserved areas with investments, the bill aims to stimulate local economies through increased healthcare activity. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill provides a 30 percent tax credit for qualified workers in designated health investment zones.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill aims to reduce documented health disparities which frequently disproportionately affect minority communities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill targets areas with high poverty rates to improve health outcomes and provide economic incentives.
- 2/11/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.