Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

General Parkinsons disease information, including disease burden, symptoms, health coverage, health care costs, environmental risk factors, and access to care for underserved communities. Implementation of the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinsons Act (Public Law No. 118-66), including advocacy related to the development and execution of the National Parkinsons Project (NPP), interagency coordination, advisory council establishment, reporting requirements, and congressional oversight, as well as appropriations to support implementation activities. Federal funding for Parkinsons disease and neurodegenerative disease research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including advocacy for increased appropriations across NIH institutes (including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institute on Aging (NIA)) and support for related congressional appropriations requests and communications. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinsons Disease Research, including advocacy in appropriations to re-establish and expand Udall Centers, related report language, and coordination with the National Parkinsons Project. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and neurodegenerative disease research, including advocacy for report language directing prioritization of high-risk, high-reward research on Parkinsons disease and related neurodegenerative conditions. Alzheimers Disease and Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research, including advocacy for report language to expand funding eligibility to Parkinsons disease and related dementias and support research on the intersection of Parkinsons disease and dementia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System (NNCSS), including advocacy for continued appropriations to support data collection and surveillance of Parkinsons disease and related conditions. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) coordination on environmental risk factors and neurodegenerative disease prevention, including advocacy for report language and funding to support interagency coordination and research on toxic exposures and Parkinsons disease and related conditions. The Harmonizing Environmental Analyses and Launching Therapeutic Hubs to Yield Bolstered Research And Innovation in Neurological Science (HEALTHY BRAINS) Act (H.R. 7779), including advocacy for cosponsorship and provisions supporting research on environmental risk factors and toxic exposures linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Environmental risk factors and Parkinsons disease, including advocacy related to pesticide exposure and paraquat, and support for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action to reassess and restrict or ban paraquat due to links to Parkinsons disease. The Paraquat Prevention Act (H.R. 9357): This legislation would direct EPA to cancel all registrations for the herbicide paraquat, revoke food-residue tolerances, prohibit the sale and use of existing stocks, and permanently bar re-registration, citing evidence linking paraquat exposure to an increased risk of Parkinsons disease. The Alzheimers Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130 / S. 3267), including advocacy related to early detection of Alzheimers disease and related dementias and access to diagnostic tools. The Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act (S. 1565 / H.R. 138), including advocacy related to expanding the use of tax-advantaged health accounts (including HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs) to cover medical expenses for family caregivers and improving affordability of care. The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 (H.R. 6766 / S. 3492), including advocacy related to ensuring access for designated essential caregivers in health care facilities during periods of restricted visitation under Medicare and Medicaid. The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 (H.R. 9641), including advocacy related to ensuring access for designated essential caregivers in health care facilities during periods of restricted visitation under Medicare and Medicaid.

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Medicare and Medicaid coverage, access, and affordability of treatments for Parkinsons disease and other chronic conditions, including beneficiary access to care, prescription drug coverage, and utilization management policies. The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act (H.R. 2491 / S. 1227), including advocacy related to simplifying Medicare and Social Security processes and improving access to benefits for caregivers and individuals with chronic conditions. The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 (H.R. 6766 / S. 3492), including advocacy related to ensuring access for designated essential caregivers in health care facilities during periods of restricted visitation under Medicare and Medicaid. The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 (H.R. 9641), including advocacy related to ensuring access for designated essential caregivers in health care facilities during periods of restricted visitation under Medicare and Medicaid. The Alzheimers Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (H.R. 6130 / S. 3267), including advocacy related to Medicare coverage of blood-based biomarker tests for early detection of Alzheimers disease and related dementias. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policies, including advocacy related to Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage, prescription drug affordability, formulary design, utilization management, and beneficiary protections.

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE