WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded Senate passage of Tyler’s Law, a bill directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide hospitals with guidance on how emergency rooms can implement fentanyl testing in their routine drug screens. The bill is named for Tyler Shamash, a teenager who died of an overdose in part because – unbeknownst to the physician – he was not tested for fentanyl upon being checked into the emergency room.

“Overdose deaths, especially among young people, are increasing across the country, and even just one preventable death is too many. As we try to fight this epidemic, it’s important that hospital staff are including fentanyl in emergency room drug tests,” said Sen. Warner. “I am proud to have worked on this bipartisan, life-saving legislation that would institute more robust guidance on testing for fentanyl during a suspected overdose.”

In January 2023, Malcolm Kent, a 17-year-old Fairfax County resident, went to the emergency room while experiencing an overdose but was not tested for fentanyl. He died of a fentanyl overdose shortly after being discharged. His mother, Thurraya Kent, has advocated for robust measures to test for fentanyl in emergency rooms and expand access to treatment.

Tyler’s Law would direct the Secretary of HHS to:

• Complete a study to determine how frequently emergency rooms are currently testing for fentanyl when patients come in for an overdose, as well as the associated costs and benefits/risks, and
• Issue guidance to hospitals on implementing fentanyl testing in emergency rooms.

In 2023, 1,936 Virginians died due to overdose of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, accounting for nearly 79% of all drug overdose deaths in Virginia. Nationally, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were responsible for just over 69% of all drug overdose deaths that year. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, fentanyl has more than doubled overdose deaths among children ages 12 to 17.

Sen. Warner has consistently pushed for robust action to combat the opioid epidemic, with a particular focus on expanding telehealth so more Virginians experiencing substance use disorder can access treatment. He is the lead sponsor of the TREATS Act, which would permanently (and without any special registration) allow telehealth prescribing of controlled substances, such as buprenorphine, to treat opioid use disorder. He also repeatedly pushed the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to preserve pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities and establish a special registration pathway so that quality providers can permanently prescribe controlled substances safely via telehealth.

 At the same time, Sen. Warner has emphasized that the crisis is increasingly driven by sophisticated transnational criminal networks that manufacture and traffic fentanyl into the United States, often exploiting gaps at ports of entry and leveraging global financial systems to launder proceeds. To disrupt these networks, he has backed a comprehensive approach that pairs stronger enforcement with financial tools to go after traffickers’ profits and operations. He recently celebrated passage of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, a sanctions and anti-money laundering law that targets fentanyl traffickers. He also introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, legislation that would increase staffing capacity and deploy advanced technology to detect drugs being smuggled through points of entry. 

In addition to Sen. Warner, Tyler’s Law is also sponsored by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jim Banks (R-IN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Todd Young (R-IN). Reps. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Bob Latta (OH-05), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) introduced the companion legislation in the House.

The full text of the bill is available here.  

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act to modernize the Medicare hospice benefit, protect patients and taxpayers from fraud, and expand access to essential services and caregiver support.

Medicare’s hospice benefit has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. However, the hospice industry has changed dramatically both in terms of the types of providers delivering and patients receiving end-of-life services. At the same time, documented and burgeoning fraud and abuse have raised questions about how to ensure the benefit continues to promote patient access while safeguarding the Medicare Trust Fund.

The Hospice CARE Act would strengthen the Medicare hospice benefit through a combination of program integrity provisions and payment reforms to ensure it better meets the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

 “Making decisions about hospice and end-of-life care is one of the most difficult moments that families can endure, yet Medicare’s hospice benefit is out-of-touch with the needs of patients and providers,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will prioritize patient comfort at home as well as in a health care facility, and protect patients and taxpayers from bad actors attempting to steal essential resources.”

“Hospice should provide comfort and dignity at the end of life, yet the benefit has not evolved to meet families where there is need,” said Rep. Sánchez. “This bill strengthens and enhances Medicare’s hospice benefit so it provides the critical care patients and their families need – like respite care for caregivers and coverage of palliative treatments like dialysis and radiation – all while protecting the program from those trying to exploit it.”

Program Integrity: The bill creates additional safeguards to prevent fraudulent providers from enrolling in Medicare and increases oversight of hospices, especially new hospices. Specifically, it:

• Temporarily prevents new hospices from enrolling in Medicare, while allowing exceptions for instances where additional access to care is needed.
• Requires increased transparency of hospice ownership and managing control information, ensuring CMS’s enrollment records are up to date.
• Increases survey frequency for new hospices to ensure they meet hospice health and safety standards and prohibits payments to hospices that do not submit required quality data to the Secretary, with appropriate exceptions.
• Reduces the potential for inappropriate financial conflicts of interest when certifying individuals’ eligibility for hospice care, while allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to also certify eligibility.
• Requires CMS to conduct additional oversight activities to ensure hospices are providing holistic and comprehensive care.
• Provides patients with an explanation of benefits within 15 days of an individual’s hospice election to increase beneficiary awareness of hospice enrollment and prevent extended periods of fraudulent billing.

Payment Reform: The bill ensures that providers are incentivized to deliver high-quality care to individuals and their families. Specifically, it:

• Revises the payment structure for routine home care to reward hospices for providing in-person care.
• Increases payments to hospices for furnishing palliative radiation, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and dialysis to address access barriers for individuals that require these costly treatments under a hospice election. Additionally, it creates an outlier payment policy to provide a backstop for providers delivering care to high-cost patients.
• Adds home respite care to the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing individuals to receive respite care at home rather than in a facility, which is a key benefit for families and caregivers that are taking care of loved ones at the end-of-life.
• Creates a new transitional inpatient respite benefit to support patients and families through their transition from a hospital into hospice care in the setting of their choice, allowing patients to move from hospital to general inpatient care to transitional respite, when appropriate. This new transitional payment seeks to eliminate the current pattern of care whereby terminally ill individuals are discharged from the hospital and inappropriately admitted to a skilled nursing facility in lieu of electing hospice care.

The full bill is available here. 

“The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) greatly supports the work being done on the need to address hospice fraud,” said Kristina Newport, MD, FAAHPM, HMDC, chief medical officer for AAHPM. “Patients and families in need of the care, comfort and quality of life that hospice care provides need to trust that they are receiving the best possible services. We look forward to working with Representative Sánchez and Senator Warner on these important issues and to ensure that all patients have access to this vital care.”

“The Alliance thanks Representative Sánchez and Senator Warner for their commitment to ensuring Americans have access to high-quality hospice care. The reintroduction of the Hospice CARE Act reflects their dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our aging population and strengthening the long-term sustainability and integrity of the hospice benefit,” said Jennifer Sheets, chief executive officer for the National Alliance for Care at Home. “Hospice care is one of the most profound services our healthcare system offers, providing patients and families with compassionate, dignified care during life’s most difficult moments. As the number of Americans turning to hospice continues to grow, it is critical that the benefit keeps pace with how care is delivered today and what patients, families, and providers actually need. The Alliance looks forward to working with Representative Sánchez and Senator Warner and their congressional colleagues on this legislation. We are committed to being a constructive partner in any effort to protect what’s working, address what isn’t, and modernize the Medicare hospice benefit in ways that serve patients, families, and the future of care in our country.”

“Hospice is a vital and deeply valued benefit, with a critical role in America’s health care system,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “At its best, compassionate, high-quality, person-centered care is delivered to beneficiaries and families by ethical, forward-thinking, competent providers, in keeping with the sector’s nonprofit origins, which established a standard of quality care. Currently, however, hospice is at an inflection point. Increased scrutiny – an appropriate response to fraudulent behavior of a limited group of bad actors – highlights the need for modernization. This moment calls for thoughtful reform to ensure this valuable benefit continues to serve patients and families, support high-quality providers, protect against the rise of dishonest players, and preserve the core promise of hospice care. Done right, changes will expand the benefit to support the realities of modern-day hospice care, address the benefit’s vulnerabilities now being exploited, and help ensure quality to support strong funding. We thank Congresswoman Sánchez and Senator Warner for their leadership on this bill and their longstanding commitment to the need for high quality care for people with serious illness and at the end of life. There is more work to do, and we look forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman Sánchez and Senator Warner to ensure this bill achieves these goals.”

“In addition to significant payment reforms and program integrity measures, this bill takes important steps towards improving access to care for individuals on hospice,” said David Lipschutz, co-director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “This includes incentivizing in-person clinical visits and care to higher-cost patients and allowing respite care to be provided in the home. It also would create a transitional 15-day inpatient respite period to give eligible patients and their families adequate time to arrange for a safe transition into receive hospice at home following a hospital stay.”

“The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) thanks Senator Mark Warner and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez for their continued leadership on improving the experience for patients and families at the end-of-life, including with today's introduction of the Hospice CARE Act of 2026,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, founder and CEO of NPHI. “This legislation provides an important opportunity to pursue thoughtful reforms to the Medicare hospice benefit that both preserve patient access and address ongoing concerns related to program integrity. While the bill represents meaningful progress toward modernizing the benefit and reducing incentives for fraud, waste, and abuse, NPHI believes certain provisions – particularly those related to payment reform – present opportunities for further discussion and refinement. We look forward to working closely with Senator Warner, Representative Sánchez, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Ways and Means Committee to ensure the legislation delivers thoughtful reforms that strengthen the hospice benefit for mission-driven providers and the patients they serve.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon pressing her on the Department of Education’s decision to propose student financial aid provisions that alter the definition of “professional degree” to only include doctorate-level degrees. This rule would limit the amount that many health care workers who require long, costly programs for professional licensure could borrow. At a time when Virginia – like the rest of the country – is facing a health care workforce crisis and is in need of tens of thousands of health care workers, this cap on student loan borrowing does not reflect the needs of the health care system.

“We write to raise concern over the Department of Education’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the student financial aid provisions included in Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While we have broad concerns regarding the elimination of the Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan program and the implementation of new annual and lifetime student loan limits in Public Law 119-21, we write today with concern specifically regarding the proposal to exclude certain critical post-baccalaureate health care degrees from the regulatory definition of ‘professional degree.’ This decision caps student loan borrowing limits for these professionals at a lower threshold than those included in the proposed definition at a time when Virginia and our country face a health care workforce crisis that worsens by the day. We urge you to recognize this health emergency and broaden the definition of ‘professional degree’ to ensure it reflects the reality of our health care system and doesn’t worsen a crisis that already exists in all corners of our country,” wrote the senators.

Republicans’ budget megabill, which was passed last year without a single Democratic vote, states that students earning “professional degrees” may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate in student loans, yet those earning “graduate degrees” are subject to borrowing limits of $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. Under this law and the Department of Education’s proposed interpretation of the term “professional degree,” student financial aid would be limited for advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, social workers, and more, despite the expertise of these health care workers being just as critical as the expertise of doctors and dentists.

The senators stressed, “Virginia, consistent with trends nationwide, is facing historic ongoing health care workforce shortages. As of July 2024, all 133 localities in Virgina are federally designated as behavioral health shortage areas and 96 localities are designated as primary care shortage areas, with 44% of neighborhoods lacking acceptable access to primary care services. According to a study by George Mason University’s Center for Health Workforce, Virginia is in need of over 17,000 more registered nurses, 3,700 more physical therapists, and 2,400 more mental health and substance use disorder social workers to meet the health care needs of our constituents. If current trends persist, these shortages in the nursing, primary care, and behavioral health workforce are set to increase in Virginia. This problem is not unique to our Commonwealth; nationwide, it is projected that 1.2 million new nurses will be needed by 2030 to address existing health care workforce shortages.”

Every county in Southwest Virginia, with the exception of Pulaski, Montgomery, and Roanoke counties, is a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). The region needs more than 860 nurses, 200 physical therapists, and 130 postsecondary health specialties teachers. Additionally, Hampton Roads need more than 2,800 nurses, 934 physical therapists, 437 mental health and substance use disorder social workers, and 131 postsecondary health specialties teachers. Central Virginia also needs more than 800 nurses.

“Cutting off access to adequate federal loan amounts will needlessly exacerbate the rapidly worsening workforce crisis impacting Virginians and Americans across the country. Furthermore, there is no evidence that individuals in certain professions default more often than those in other professions, raising the question of why there is the need to limit borrowing by profession. In fact, the degrees being excluded from the RISE Committee’s definition of ‘professional degree’ are amongst some of the fastest growing jobs in the country. Average job growth is projected to be 3 percent in the next ten years; in contrast, job growth is projected to be 11 percent for physical therapists and audiologists, 14 percent for occupational therapists, 19 percent for speech-language pathologists, 20 percent for physician assistants, and over 40 percent for advanced nursing degree jobs. Now is the time to bolster support for individuals training to enter our health care workforce, not make it harder for them to afford to pursue degrees in nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and other key health care professions desperately needed in our communities,” the senators added.

Warner and Kaine concluded the letter by urging the Department of Education to expand the definition of “professional degree” to include a more comprehensive list of post-baccalaureate health care degrees. If health care professionals and trainees are blocked access to necessary financial support, Virginia and the nation’s health care workforce crisis will only worsen.

During a recent roundtable at Virginia Health Catalyst in Glen Allen, Sen. Warner heard directly from Virginians, health care providers, and stakeholders about the health care workforce crisis and the added stress that this new student financial aid provision will place on the health care system.

This letter is endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Virginia, National Association of Hispanic Nurses DC Metro Chapter, Philippine Nurses Association of Virginia Inc (PNAVA), Society of Southeastern Virginia Oncology Nursing Society (SEVONS), The Speech Language Hearing Association of Virginia, Urologic Nurses and Associates Chapter 111 (SUNA), UVA Health, Virginia Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (VaCNS), Virginia Association of Colleges of Nursing (VACN), Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, Virginia Nurses Association, and Virginia Occupational Therapy Association.

“As we consider the critical healthcare needs of our Commonwealth and country, APTA Virginia is deeply concerned by the Department of Education's proposed rule to exclude the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the ‘professional degree’ classification. At a time when our profession is facing a 9.5% vacancy rate in outpatient physical therapy, nearly double the national average of vacancies in other professions, limiting the financial resources for these doctoral students will exacerbate our provider shortages, increase patient wait times, and decrease patient outcomes. If the DPT were to be classified as a professional degree with a $50,000 annual limit, 90% of our nation's programs can continue training the workforce we desperately need,” said APTA Virginia President Emily J. Hawkins, PT, DPT, PhD.

“The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia joins our state legislators and health care partners in expressing strong support for expanding access to federal financial aid and loan programs for students pursuing degrees in health care professions. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are vital members of Virginia’s health care system—supporting individuals across the lifespan with communication, hearing, and swallowing needs—yet both professions face growing difficulties in recruitment and retention due to educational costs and limited loan access. Ensuring equitable access to federal financial support for these programs is essential to rebuilding and sustaining Virginia’s health care workforce—and to safeguarding the communication health of our communities,” said Melanie-Joy H. Dorn MA CCC-SLP , Vice President of Professional and Government Affairs for The Speech Language Hearing Association.

“UVA Health is grateful for Sens. Warner and Kaine’s support in urging the Department of Education to broaden the types of health care professions eligible for higher federal loan limits.  As one of the Commonwealth’s major education and training sites for the next generation of health care professionals, UVA Health believes failing to recognize this larger advance-trained and interprofessional healthcare workforce structure risks undermining both the future availability of qualified healthcare providers and broader long-term healthcare system viability,” said Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP, FRCP, CEO of UVA Health and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs for the University of Virginia.

 “Excluding advanced practice registered nursing programs from the Department of Education’s list of professional degrees would further disadvantage already underfunded nursing programs, strain faculty capacity, and make advanced education less attainable - particularly for the lifelong learners who advance through every level of nursing and pursue terminal degrees while balancing other responsibilities outside of advancing their education.  While we support fiscally responsible policies that make healthcare education more affordable across all disciplines, this proposal would have the opposite effect on advanced practice nursing and ultimately limit Virginians’ access to care. We urge the Department to reverse this exclusion,” said Dr. Alysia E. Pack, President, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. 

“The Virginia Nurses Association urges that graduate nursing programs be included in the federal ‘professional degree’ category so that students pursuing advanced nursing degrees are eligible for the full $200,000 loan cap. Ensuring equitable access to these loan opportunities is essential to sustaining the pipeline of advanced practice registered nurses, nurse leaders, and nurse faculty. Excluding graduate nursing students from this category would limit opportunities for those seeking to serve in these critical roles and, over time, weaken the nursing workforce that supports the health of every community in the Commonwealth,” said Virginia Nurses Association Chief Executive Officer Lindsey Cardwell, MSN, RN, NPD-BC.

"The Virginia Occupational Therapy Association shares Senator Warner’s concern that excluding occupational therapy from the definition of a professional degree will worsen workforce shortages and limit patient access to essential services. Occupational therapists are graduate-educated, licensed healthcare providers who support Virginians of all ages and abilities in participating in daily life activities, including essential personal care tasks, education, work, and health management. Occupational therapy plays a critical role in improving outcomes and reducing reliance on more costly levels of care. Maintaining equitable access to federal student loan support is essential to preparing the next generation of providers that Virginia’s health system and communities depend on," said Savannah Howe, President of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association.

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary McMahon:

We write to raise concern over the Department of Education’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the student financial aid provisions included in Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While we have broad concerns regarding the elimination of the Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan program and the implementation of new annual and lifetime student loan limits in Public Law 119-21, we write today with concern specifically regarding the proposal to exclude certain critical post-baccalaureate health care degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree.” This decision caps student loan borrowing limits for these professionals at a lower threshold than those included in the proposed definition at a time when Virginia and our country face a health care workforce crisis that worsens by the day. We urge you to recognize this health emergency and broaden the definition of “professional degree” to ensure it reflects the reality of our health care system and doesn’t worsen a crisis that already exists in all corners of our country.

As you know, Public Law 119-21 states that students earning defined “professional degrees” may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate in student loans. In contrast, students earning “graduate degrees” under P.L. 119-21 definition are subject to borrowing limits of only $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. Current regulations include a number of examples of professional health care degrees: Pharmacy (PharmD), Dentistry (DDS or DMD), Medicine (MD/DO), Optometry (OD), Podiatry (DPM), Chiropractic (DC). These regulations also say the definition includes the above but should not be considered an exhaustive list.

During the negotiated rulemaking process completed in November 2025, the RISE Committee proposed a definition of “professional degree” that is inconsistent with the realities of the health care workforce. On January 30, 2026, the Department of Education formally released the NPRM on the proposed change. Our health care system relies on the specialized training and expertise of so many provider types, including ones practicing independently. By focusing on doctoral-level degrees, the Department’s interpretation of the term “professional degree” leaves out advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, social workers, and other degrees requiring lengthy, costly programs for professional licensure. In addition, their training is not generally considered a stepping stone for further training, and their expertise is no less critical in our health care system than those of doctors and dentists.

Virginia, consistent with trends nationwide, is facing historic ongoing health care workforce shortages. As of July 2024, all 133 localities in Virgina are federally designated as behavioral health shortage areas and 96 localities are designated as primary care shortage areas, with 44% of neighborhoods lacking acceptable access to primary care services. According to a study by George Mason University’s Center for Health Workforce, Virginia is in need of over 17,000 more registered nurses, 3,700 more physical therapists, and 2,400 more mental health and substance use disorder social workers to meet the health care needs of our constituents. If current trends persist, these shortages in the nursing, primary care, and behavioral health workforce are set to increase in Virginia. This problem is not unique to our Commonwealth; nationwide, it is projected that 1.2 million new nurses will be needed by 2030 to address existing health care workforce shortages.

Cutting off access to adequate federal loan amounts will needlessly exacerbate the rapidly worsening workforce crisis impacting Virginians and Americans across the country. Furthermore, there is no evidence that individuals in certain professions default more often than those in other professions, raising the question of why there is the need to limit borrowing by profession. In fact, the degrees being excluded from the RISE Committee’s definition of “professional degree” are amongst some of the fastest growing jobs in the country. Average job growth is projected to be 3 percent in the next ten years; in contrast, job growth is projected to be 11 percent for physical therapists and audiologists, 14 percent for occupational therapists, 19 percent for speech-language pathologists, 20 percent for physician assistants, and over 40 percent for advanced nursing degree jobs. Now is the time to bolster support for individuals training to enter our health care workforce, not make it harder for them to afford to pursue degrees in nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and other key health care professions desperately needed in our communities.

We strongly urge the Department of Education to further expand the definition of “professional program” to include a more comprehensive list of programs. The health care workforce disaster will only worsen if our health care professionals and trainees are blocked from access to necessary financial support. Nurses, speech and language pathologists, physician assistants, and other health providers are paramount to keeping our system afloat. It is critical that all post-baccalaureate health care degrees are equally protected to the greatest extent possible from the negative impacts of Public Law 119-21.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and we look forward to your response.

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WARNER PASSES HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILLS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) applauds the congressional passage of a bipartisan health package advancing numerous Virginia priorities. This legislation includes several provisions authored and championed by Sen. Warner that expand telehealth services, lower drug costs, rein in Pharmacy Benefit Mangers (PBMs), protect rural health services, research maternal morality prevention, and fund cures and treatments for pediatric cancer.

“As premiums and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, Virginians and folks across the country are struggling to afford health care coverage,” said Sen. Warner. “There is still a ton of work to be done to ensure that working families are not priced out of care, but I’m proud that Congress was able to take this step and work together in a bipartisan manner to pass many necessary provisions that will ensure telehealth is accessible, minimize the role of PBMs as a middle man, protect rural health labor and delivery services, allow for multi-cancer early detection screenings, and much more.”

This package includes several Warner-led or cosponsored provisions, including:

• An expanded telehealth package that extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities for two years; requires Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance with best practices on providing telehealth services accessibly; allows cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services to be provided by telehealth in Medicare in 2026 and 2027; and directs the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to help health care providers learn how to screen for medication-induced movement disorders over telehealth.
• The PREVENT DIABETES Act, legislation that authorizes the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model to include virtual-only programs through 2029.
• The reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes – which researches how to prevent and cure type 1 diabetes – for one year.
• Core provisions from Sen. Warner’s Patients Before Middlemen Act and the Senate Finance Committee’s PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act, legislation that protects access to pharmacies by requiring Medicare drug plans and PBMs to allow any willing pharmacy to participate in-network and prohibits PBMs from linking their fees from Part D plans to the price of drugs. Also, it ensures Medicare can confirm the PBMs are providing value by requiring PBMs to report on drug price and other information to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, requiring PBMs to define and apply drug and drug pricing terms in contracts with Medicare plans transparently and consistently, and empowering Part D plans with new audit rights with respect to PBMs.
• The PBM Reporting Transparency Act, legislation that holds Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) accountable for providing good value to seniors and Medicare by requiring information about the contracts between PBMs and Medicare prescription drug plans to be made public.
• The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act, legislation that requires State Medicaid programs to conduct studies on the costs of providing maternity, labor, and delivery services in rural hospitals and hospitals that serve a high proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries and submit a report detailing the results of this study to HHS.
• The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize programs that support efforts to improve the mental health of health care providers.
• The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025, legislation that supports 9/11 responders’ and survivors’ health by updating the funding formula for the World Trade Center Health Program for FY2026 through 2040 and requiring a report to Congress from the HHS Secretary that assesses the anticipated budgetary needs of the Program.
• The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, legislation that improves access to necessary out-of-state care for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by requiring states to establish a process through which qualifying pediatric out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers without undergoing additional screening requirements.
• The Rural Hospital Support Act, legislation that extends critical Medicare programs that increase payments to certain rural hospitals for one year.
• The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act, legislation that extends critical add-on payments for ground ambulance services, including higher ones for rural areas, for two years.
• The Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, legislation that adds multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood screening tests as a covered benefit under the Medicare program, effective January 1, 2029.
• The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, legislation that addresses public health and prevention activities related to preterm birth through Fiscal Year 2030. Also, it directs HHS to establish a working group to coordinate federal activities related to preterm birth, infant mortality, and other adverse birth outcomes. Lastly, it directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a study and issue a report on the costs of preterm birth and the factors and gaps in public health programs that contribute to preterm birth.
• The Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, legislation that reauthorizes support for State-based maternal mortality review committees through Fiscal Year 2030. Also, it directs HHS to disseminate best practices on maternal mortality prevention to hospitals, professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives.
• The Give Kids a Chance Act, legislation that helps develop cures and treatments for pediatric cancer. This includes providing FDA authority to require pediatric cancer trials for drugs that are used in combination with active ingredients that currently meet the standard of care for adult cancer but have potential for pediatric use; providing FDA authority to enforce against companies that fail to meet pediatric study requirements; and extending FDA priority review voucher program through Fiscal Year 2029 to incentivize the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked passage of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a Trump administration rule that would raise health care costs and make it harder for Americans to access coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces:

“Today’s vote is the latest chapter in a years-long effort by Republicans to undermine the Affordable Care Act and make health care more expensive and harder to access for American families. By blocking this CRA resolution, Republicans gave the Trump administration rule a green light to raise premiums, increase out-of-pocket costs, add burdensome paperwork, and push as many as 1.8 million Americans off their health insurance.

“This vote follows a series of deliberate Republican actions that have already driven up health care costs. Just weeks ago, Republicans refused to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, driving premium increases of hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars a month for families who were already stretched thin. They’ve backed cuts to Medicaid, undermined marketplace stability, and now they’ve doubled down by letting this harmful rule stand. Taken together, these actions threaten both coverage and affordability for millions of Americans, deepening a health care crisis that never should have happened.

“This vote was a chance to do the bare minimum – to stop a rule so harmful that it’s already been paused by the courts – and Republicans still said no. I’ll continue fighting to protect affordable health care and to hold this administration accountable for policies that hurt working families.”

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to overturn recently finalized federal rules within a specified timeframe. Today’s resolution, introduced by Sens. Warner, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and 40 other Senate Democrats, sought to nullify a Trump administration rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 25, 2025. The so-called “Marketplace Integrity and Affordability” rule would make it harder for Americans to enroll in ACA marketplace plans, reduce covered services, increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and impose new bureaucratic hurdles on families and states. CMS projects that if implemented, up to 1.8 million people could lose coverage next year, while millions of others would face higher costs and increased administrative burdens.

Repealing the rule through the CRA would have prevented CMS from issuing a substantially similar policy in the future, protecting more than 22 million Americans who rely on the ACA marketplaces for affordable health insurance. Despite strong Democratic support, Senate Republicans blocked the resolution, allowing the rule to remain in effect.

Prior to the vote, Sen. Warner spoke on the floor, urging his Republican colleagues to support his legislation to protect Americans’ health care. Full video of those remarks is available for download here.

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WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued a statement after the Trump administration proposed new steps to make it easier for seniors to switch their Medicare Advantage plan or choose Traditional Medicare if a doctor or hospital they use leaves their insurance plan network.

“Navigating the health care landscape is hard enough as is – we shouldn’t be forcing seniors to jump through hoops in order to continue seeing the doctors they know and trust,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m glad to see CMS heed our call by proposing new measures that would allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to change their coverage more easily when they experience mid-year provider network changes. I’ll keep working with CMS to get this proposed rule finalized and ensure that elderly Americans can count on the continuity of care they need.”

“American seniors should not have the rug pulled out from under them when it comes to seeing the doctor of their choice,” said Sen. Wyden. “These proposed improvements will reduce confusion and make it easier for seniors to continue seeing their local health care providers. I urge CMS to finalize this proposal and bring more transparency and consumer protection to Medicare Advantage.”

In October, Wyden and Warner called on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the rising number of incidents where doctors or health care facilities leave a Medicare Advantage plan network, which triggers a “special enrollment period” that allows seniors to change plans. Over the past year, more than a dozen states have had provider network changes deemed “significant” by CMS.

Late last month, CMS proposed changes to streamline the process by allowing seniors to change plans if virtually any of the health care providers they see leaves their plan network. An enrollee who loses a provider within their plan network will be notified of the network change and their right to change plan or switch to Traditional Medicare with guaranteed access to Medigap coverage.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) hosted a spotlight forum underscoring the urgent need for Congress to extend the soon-expiring tax credits that have made health care more affordable for tens of millions of Americans. The spotlight forum, entitled “The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits”, featured several Democratic Senators and five witnesses and came ahead of a Senate vote Thursday on a Democratic proposal to extend the tax credits. Click HERE to watch the full forum and click HERE for media files.

“Today we heard from Americans and their message was clear: health care tax credits save lives. These tax credits make it possible for Americans to navigate life with the certainty that they’ll be able to see a doctor, afford medication, and receive critical care when they need it,” said Sen. Warner. “In three short weeks, these and many more Americans will have to begin shouldering the financial burden of Republican inaction to the tune of hundreds of dollars per month. We cannot leave Americans in the lurch. We must extend ACA tax credits.”

“The cost of inaction is too high for my Republican colleagues to ignore: It is past time for Congress to come together and pass an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits that ensure working families can afford health care. I was glad to host this forum with my colleague Senator Warner to emphasize how important these tax credits are and to hear directly from those who are going to be affected if they expire,” said Sen. Shaheen. “Here in Congress, we have the opportunity to address the concerns of millions of Americans who worry about the rising cost of health care. I’m calling on my colleagues across the aisle to join us to prevent millions of Americans from losing their health insurance.”

In addition to Sens. Warner and Shaheen, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) spoke at the forum. Witnesses included: Katie Keith, Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Health Policy and the Law at the O’Neill Institute, Audrey Gasteier, Executive Director of Massachusetts Health Connector, Susan Stearns, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Hampshire, Kathleen Winters, Small Business Owner in Norfolk, Virginia and Kendra Bush, a Patient Advocate in Portage, Indiana.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), both members of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole urging the DEA to extend telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances. The current flexibilities, which have been critical in connecting individuals in rural and underserved communities with access to essential medications, are set to expire December 31, 2025.

“We write to urge the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to act quickly and extend critical flexibilities for telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances that were first put in place during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,” wrote the senators. “These policies ensure individuals can successfully access medical treatment via telehealth, and for many—including those with substance use disorder—these flexibilities have been life-saving.”

The senators continued, “Telemedicine has been instrumental in expanding access to health care, supporting those with the greatest need and bridging the divide between patients and providers, especially for individuals in rural and under-resourced areas. The flexibility afforded by telemedicine has been particularly important in providing access to essential medications, including those for mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and chronic illnesses.”

The senators highlighted that without continued telemedicine flexibilities, millions of Americans could lose access to essential health services, including mental and behavioral health care.

“Americans face barriers to accessing mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities. As of August 2024, more than one third of the U.S. population, or 122 million individuals, live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, as determined by an insufficient psychiatrist-to-population ratio. Rural areas face additional provider shortages, with many lacking access to psychologists, clinical social workers, and other types of providers. These challenges underscore the importance of maintaining flexibilities that increase access to treatment and services. Telemedicine flexibilities have ensured that patients receive timely and necessary care, at a time and location that is convenient for them,” added the senators.

These telemedicine flexibilities were made possible by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which allowed for an exception to the in-person medical evaluation requirement under the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, legislation regulating the online prescription of controlled substances. The DEA has previously recognized the life-saving success of telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances and since January 2020, has extended these temporary flexibilities three times.

Sen. Warner has been a longtime advocate for increased access to telehealth services, emphasizing that consistent, uninterrupted access to providers is fundamental to managing chronic conditions, supporting mental health, preventing small health issues from becoming crises, and modernizing our health system. He is an original co-author of the CONNECT for Health Act, which seeks to expand the coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors. He also previously wrote to both the Biden and Trump administrations urging the DEA to finalize regulations that allow doctors to prescribe controlled substances through telehealth. At the height of the COVID-19 crisis, Sen. Warner sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for the permanent expansion of access to telehealth services. In September 2023, Sen. Warner led bipartisan partners to share serious concerns about an earlier version of DEA’s proposed rule, which would also have seriously curtailed access to prescriptions through telemedicine.

In October 2025, Sens. Warner and Whitehouse reintroduced the bipartisan Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act, which addresses regulatory hurdles to accessing telehealth services. In 2018, Sen. Warner included a provision to expand financial coverage for virtual substance use treatment in the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018. In 2003, then-Gov. Warner expanded Medicaid coverage for telemedicine statewide, including evaluation and management visits, a range of individual psychotherapies, the full range of consultations, and some clinical services, including in cardiology and obstetrics. Coverage was also expanded to include non-physician providers. Among other benefits, the telehealth expansion allowed individuals in medically underserved and remote areas of Virginia to access quality specialty care that isn’t always available at home.

The full letter is available here.

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON  – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, a bill that would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a pathway to cover blood biomarker tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA approved the first blood-based biomarker test for use by primary care physicians earlier this year, but physicians could be hesitant to use the tests if they are not reimbursed by CMS. U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“My mother battled Alzheimer’s for a decade before her passing, and I saw firsthand just how devastating this disease is,” said Sen. Warner, co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “By expanding access to early detection testing, this legislation would help thousands of patients and families in Virginia be pro-active with their care and treatment of Alzheimer’s.”

“Alzheimer’s is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, affecting more than seven million Americans, including nearly 29,000 people in Maine. Early diagnosis is essential, yet too many patients continue to go undiagnosed until their symptoms become severe,” said Sen. Collins, co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “Our bipartisan ASAP Act would require Medicare to cover FDA-approved blood tests for Alzheimer’s, expanding access to earlier testing, and giving patients and their families more time to plan, seek support, and pursue the best options for care for their loved ones.”

“My grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s disease for many years, so I know the pain and distress this illness can cause to patients and loved ones alike,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “The sooner this disease is detected, the sooner patients and their families can seek treatment and make plans for the future. I’ll never stop working across the aisle to ensure Nevada’s seniors have access to the health care they need.”

“Alzheimer’s is a disease that has touched so many West Virginia families, including my own. While we are making breakthroughs in research and treatment, early screening and detection remain essential in improving outcomes and getting us closer to ending this devastating disease. That is why I am proud to help introduce the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, legislation that ensures patients have access to the early testing they need,” said Sen. Capito.

Specifically, the ASAP Act would:

1. Create the authority for CMS to cover FDA-approved blood-based dementia screening tests; and
2. Maintain CMS’ authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests.

The ASAP Act has been endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“New blood tests that can detect Alzheimer’s are coming soon. We need legislative action now so people living with the disease can access them without delay,” said Robert Egge, chief public policy officer of the Alzheimer’s Association and president of the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement. “The ASAP Act makes that possible, removing barriers and opening the door to earlier care and better outcomes. We're grateful for the longstanding bipartisan commitment of these congressional champions and their leadership on this landmark legislation. Together, we can make this bipartisan bill deliver for the Alzheimer’s community.”

Sen. Warner has been a longtime leader of legislative efforts to advance Alzheimer’s research, prevention, treatment, and care. As co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, he has introduced and passed the bipartisan National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, as well as urged President Trump for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research.

The complete text of the legislation can be read here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:

“Every day this shutdown drags on, Virginians feel it, from federal workers struggling to pay their bills to families unsure how they will put food on the table because this administration is cruelly and deliberately withholding the assistance they need. I want nothing more than to reopen the government, get folks back to work, and end the needless hardship this Republican shutdown is causing.

“I appreciate that this proposal includes important language preventing further mass layoffs of federal employees. That’s a critical step in protecting our public servants from this administration’s campaign of retribution, and something I’ve long pushed for.

“But I cannot support a deal that still leaves millions of Americans wondering how they are going to pay for their health care or whether they will be able to afford to get sick. We owe the American people more than a short-term fix that leaves working families staring down a health care crisis, and simply kicking the can down the road is not good enough. Families are already struggling with rising prices on everything from groceries to housing. I will keep working in the Senate to bring costs down and relieve the pressure on working families who are already paying more because of President Trump’s policies that are driving prices up instead of lowering them.” 

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Washington – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. This bipartisan legislation addresses regulatory hurdles to accessing telehealth services for opioid use disorder by making permanent the resources that were made available during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Telehealth has become an essential part of patient care, helping providers reach people where they are, especially in rural and underserved communities in Virginia and across the country,” said Sen. Warner. “For many, it’s been a literal lifesaver. But the current flexibilities are temporary, and this bipartisan bill would make sure patients can continue accessing the telehealth treatment and resources they rely on.”

“Over 80 percent of our communities are off the road system in Alaska, which often leaves people to fly hundreds of miles to receive care,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Expanded access to telehealth services has proven to be critical in meeting people in recovery where they are. This legislation makes permanent patients’ access to these services regardless of where they call home.”

“The opioid epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on families in Rhode Island and across the country,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “There is a bipartisan commitment in Congress to supporting people who are on the long, noble road of recovery by preserving lifesaving recovery support from the comfort and privacy of home.”

“The opioid epidemic is one of the most pressing public health emergencies of our time,” said Sen. Tillis. “During the pandemic, temporary flexibilities allowed life-saving opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments, such as buprenorphine, to be prescribed via telehealth. This bipartisan legislation will permanently allow health care providers to prescribe OUD treatments via telehealth as appropriate, and result in expanded access to treatments that are proven to be effective in treating substance use disorders. As the United States continues to experience an unacceptable number of opioid overdose deaths, we must pursue policies that reduce barriers and increase access to care, and I'm proud to work with my colleagues on the TREATS Act, which does exactly that.”

Additional cosponsors include Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Background

In March 2020, early in the Public Health Emergency declared during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorized healthcare providers to prescribe medication to treat opioid addiction via audio-only or audio-visual telehealth appointments. This expansion of coverage improved access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), improved retention in care, and reduced risk of overdose. These expanded services are set to expire at the end of the year. This legislation seeks to codify access to these treatment options. 

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) began sending out notices for 2026 health insurance premium rates through the Virginia Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace:

“Throughout the day today, more and more Virginians will receive notices that their health care premiums will go up significantly next year because Republicans have refused to extend critical Affordable Care Act tax credits. Families are already facing higher financial stress due to the rising cost of groceries and other basic necessities, and there’s no reason Congress shouldn’t be able to fix the health care premium issue so millions of Americans can keep their health care. It’s up to President Trump and congressional Republicans to decide whether and when they want to engage and work with Democrats to extend the ACA tax credits and reopen the government.”

In August, the Virginia SCC released its proposed individual and small group health insurance premiums for plan year 2026, with most insurers proposing average increases of 20 percent or higher. Millions of Americans will see higher health care premiums when they go to sign up for health insurance through their state marketplace due to the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of the year.

Warner and Kaine have advocated for the extension of enhanced premium tax credits under the ACA, but Republicans have refused to extend them to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing and keep millions of Americans from losing their health insurance. Democrats have asked Republicans for months to address the expiration of the ACA tax credits, and have proposed legislation to extend them and reopen the government. However, Republicans have blocked the bill’s passage. A new analysis shows that not extending the tax credits will have disastrous effects on Virginia.

With the government shut down, Warner and Kaine continue to push to reopen the government and protect Americans’ health care. Earlier this month, the senators sounded the alarm about the rise in monthly health care costs for Virginians under the ACA. The effort to prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing comes just months after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans slashed Medicaid to offset the cost of billionaire tax cuts in the Republican budget law.

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