Health care costs
243 bills and resolutions in the 119th Congress. 20 passed a chamber; 5 became law.
How did your members vote on this?
H.R. 89 Prescription Freedom Act of 2025
Introduced
Sponsor Andy Biggs (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced Jan 3, 2025. Matched on the CRS subject Prescription drugs.
H.R. 89 on Congress.gov(opens in a new tab)Summary by the Congressional Research Service
Prescription Freedom Act of 2025
This bill generally eliminates the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require that a drug be dispensed only with a prescription. However, the FDA may continue to require a prescription for any drug intended for terminating a pregnancy.
H.R. 90 Health Coverage Choice Act
Introduced
Sponsor Andy Biggs (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced Jan 3, 2025. Matched on the CRS subject Health care costs and insurance.
H.R. 90 on Congress.gov(opens in a new tab)Summary by the Congressional Research Service
Health Coverage Choice Act
This bill extends the maximum duration of short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. The bill increases the maximum authorized initial term of such plans to a period that is less than 12 months (with a total duration of no more than 36 months, including renewals).
Current regulations limit the initial term to no more than three months and the maximum coverage duration to no more than four months, including renewals or extensions.
S. 1830 Right to Treat Act
Introduced
Sponsor Ron Johnson (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced May 21, 2025. Matched on the CRS subject Prescription drugs.
S. 1830 on Congress.gov(opens in a new tab)Summary by the Congressional Research Service
Right to Treat Act
This bill specifies that no federal agency has the authority to regulate the practice of medicine. It further specifies that no federal law or policy may prohibit or restrict prescriptions for an unapproved (i.e., off-label) use of a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The bill does not affect any federal restrictions on specified topics, including abortion, assisted suicide, and gender transition.
S. 2099 Restore Prescription Drugs Discount Act
Introduced
Sponsor Rand Paul (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced Jun 17, 2025. Matched on its title.
S. 3848 Apples to Apples Comparison Act of 2026
Introduced
Sponsor Tim Scott (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced Feb 11, 2026. Matched on the CRS subject Health care costs and insurance.
S. 3848 on Congress.gov(opens in a new tab)Summary by the Congressional Research Service
Apples to Apples Comparison Act of 2026
This bill requires additional reporting and disclosures regarding Medicare enrollment and expenditures.
Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to annually report on and publish information on its website regarding expenditures for Medicare hospital services and medical services, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and Medicare Advantage (MA), including for those who are enrolled in one program but not others or have supplemental insurance. This information must be broken down by county and metropolitan statistical area for each month over the prior 10-year period and for each month over the next 5-year period.
In addition, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must annually analyze and report on expenditures for Medicare beneficiaries who have an MA plan compared to those who do not have an MA plan. The Boards of Trustees for Medicare must annually report on expenditures for (1) Medicare beneficiaries who have either hospital services or medical services but not both, and (2) Medicare beneficiaries who have both hospital and medical services but do not have an MA plan.
S. 729 Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act
Introduced
Sponsor John Kennedy (R). 0 cosponsors. Introduced Feb 25, 2025. Matched on the CRS subject Health care costs and insurance.
S. 729 on Congress.gov(opens in a new tab)Summary by the Congressional Research Service
Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act
This bill increases the monetary penalties for noncompliance with the requirement that hospitals publish, and periodically update, a list of their standard charges for items and services.
The bill increases the maximum daily penalty as follows:
• for hospitals with 30 or fewer beds, from $300 to $600 per day;
• for hospitals with 31 through 550 beds, from $10 to $20 per bed, per day;
• for hospitals with greater than 550 beds, from $5,500 to $11,000 per hospital, per day.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also must periodically publish the name of each hospital that is not in compliance with the price transparency requirements.