Mark Warner (D-VA)
Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
The Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to strengthen and oversee security standards for health information. The legislation requires covered entities and business associates to meet minimum and enhanced cybersecurity requirements. It establishes regular risk assessments, reporting rules, independent audits, and user fees to support oversight activities. Additionally, the bill provides financial assistance and incentive payments to help hospitals adopt safe cybersecurity practices. Finally, it sets penalties for failing to meet security standards and allows for accelerated and advanced Medicare payments during cybersecurity incidents.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The legislation significantly strengthens cybersecurity standards, risk assessments, and reporting requirements for health information systems.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill enhances security requirements, audits, and risk management practices specifically to protect sensitive health information and data.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
By strengthening cybersecurity and providing accelerated Medicare payments during disruptions, the bill helps keep healthcare facilities open and operating.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Healthcare business owners face increased civil penalties, user fees, and mandatory compliance and auditing costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 103 establishes a methodology to distribute a percentage of collected civil monetary penalties and monetary settlements to individuals who are harmed by a violation of health information security standards. This provision is positive because it directly compensates everyday people who suffer damages from data and security breaches.
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Section 201 provides funding for critical access hospitals and eligible high-needs hospitals to adopt essential and enhanced cybersecurity practices. This provision helps protect patient safety and ensures continuity of health care operations in local communities by preventing disruptive cyber attacks.
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Section 202 allows the Secretary to make accelerated and advance Medicare payments to eligible providers and suppliers experiencing cash flow problems due to significant disruptions in claims processing caused by a cybersecurity incident. This provision ensures that local health care providers can keep their doors open and continue caring for patients during a cyber emergency.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 103 and Section 104 impose increased civil monetary penalties and new user fees on covered entities and business associates. These added financial burdens on health care providers could potentially be passed down to patients through higher costs for health care goods and services.
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Section 201 and Section 202 reduce Medicare payments for hospitals and critical access hospitals that fail to adopt required cybersecurity practices by established deadlines. These payment reductions could strain the budgets of local health care facilities, potentially impacting the level of care available to patients in those areas.
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 retired people be better off under this? — Retirees depend on stable Medicare services that are protected against disruptive cyber incidents by this legislation. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides specific funding assistance and support programs for critical access and high-needs rural hospitals. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors rely heavily on Medicare and hospital services, which benefit from improved cybersecurity and emergency funding protections. Would business owners be better off under this? — Healthcare business owners face increased civil penalties, user fees, and mandatory compliance and auditing costs.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By strengthening cybersecurity and providing accelerated Medicare payments during disruptions, the bill helps keep healthcare facilities open and operating. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill provides dedicated investments and incentive payments from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to help hospitals adopt cybersecurity practices.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The legislation significantly strengthens cybersecurity standards, risk assessments, and reporting requirements for health information systems.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill enhances security requirements, audits, and risk management practices specifically to protect sensitive health information and data.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight, user fees, audits, and civil monetary penalties enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires covered entities to publish compliance statuses and security audit statements on publicly accessible websites.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill establishes programs and funding to help healthcare providers adopt cybersecurity practices, though compliance burdens also exist.
- 9/17/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon