Ways and Means Health Care, Trade Policy Wins Signed into Law

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) issued the following statement after President Trump signed into law appropriations legislation containing policies championed by Ways and Means members to improve health care access and screenings, increase accountability of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), promote supply chain resiliency through trade, and strengthen America's economic interests in the Western hemisphere:

"The Ways and Means Committee delivered one of the most significant pieces of legislation last year with the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts, and this year we are building on that momentum by advancing critical reforms in our jurisdiction that deliver better health care, stronger trade policy, and real accountability for patients. Thanks to the hard work and leadership of our members in shepherding these bills through the legislative process, we delivered key wins for the American people - priorities we have heard reinforced time and again in witness testimony before the Committee. These reforms will help lower health care costs, improve access to the care patients need, bring long-overdue accountability to drug middlemen, and advance America's strategic interests. The Ways and Means Committee will keep fighting for policies that make health care more affordable for all Americans, expand access, and strengthen our trade and economic security."

Background
H.R. 7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 contains multiple policies championed by Ways and Means Committee Republicans.

Trade Policies:

• 1-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity ACT (AGOA)
  • H.R. 6500, the "AGOA Extension Act"(Rep. Jason Smith MO-08)
• 1-year extension of Haiti HOPE/HELP
  • H.R. 6504, the "Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act"(Rep. Greg Murphy NC-03)

Health Policies:

• Ensuring timely coverage of innovative multi-cancer early detection screening tests.
  • H.R. 842, the "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" (Rep. Jodey Arrington TX-19)
• PBM transparency and rebate reform to lower drug prices and insurance premiums for American seniors and working families.
  • H.R. 4317, the "PBM Reform Act of 2025" (Reps. Nicole Malliotakis NY-11, Greg Murphy NC-03, and Jodey Arrington TX-19)
• Requiring honest billing by off-campus hospital departments.
  • H.R. 3417 (118^th Congress), the "Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act" (Rep. Kevin Hern OK-01)
• 5-year investment in the "Hospital at Home" program
  • H.R. 4313, the "Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act"(Rep. Vern Buchanan FL-16)
• 2-year investment in Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
  • H.R. 8261 (118^th Congress), the "Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act" (Rep. David Schweikert AZ-01)
  • H.R. 1407, the "Permanent Telehealth from Home Act" (Rep. Vern Buchanan FL-16)
  • H.R. 1614, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services under the Medicare program (Rep. Mike Kelly PA-16)
  • H.R. 8154 (118^th Congress), to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (Rep. Greg Murphy NC-3)
  • H.R. 1867, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person visit requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telecommunications technology (Rep. Kevin Hern OK-1)
  • H.R. 1720, the "Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act" (Rep. Carol Miller WV-1)
  • H.R. 1899, the "Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025" (Rep. Randy Feenstra IA-4)
• Providing Medicare coverage for certain home infusion drugs.
  • H.R. 4993, the "Joe Fiandra Access to Home Infusion Act of 2025" (Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick PA-01)
• Requiring Medicare Advantage plans to post accurate provider directories.
  • H.R. 5281, the "Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists of Health Providers Act" (Rep. Greg Murphy NC-03)
• 2-year investment in rural ground ambulance bonus funding.
  • H.R. 2232, the "Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025" (Rep. Claudia Tenney NY-24)
• 1-year investment in rural hospital bonus programs.
  • H.R. 1805, the "Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals Act" (Rep. Carol Miller WV-01)
• 1-year investment in bonus funding for physicians in low-wage areas, and those participating in value-based care models.
  • H.R. 786, the "Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act" (Rep. Darin LaHood IL-16)

Work & Welfare Policies:

• Extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.