Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026

Lobbying Report: July 1st - September 30th , 2026 (Action Fund) Federal (under tobacco issue code)   Legislation:   H.R. 6845/S. 3569, Strengthening Task Force Operations to Prevent Illicit Vaping Act (S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act) H.R. 6844, Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability for Compliance in Enforcement Act (Tobacco TRACE Act) H.R. 8845 and Senate bill, FY 27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act H.R. 9260 and Senate bill, FY 27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act H.R. 8595 and Senate bill, FY 27 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act / State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act H.R. 8646 and Senate bill, FY 27 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act S. 4257 Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act H.R. 7567 Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 S. 5526 Agricultural Act of 2026 H.R. 2111, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt the premium cigar industry from certain regulations. H.R. 9877/S.5066 Health, Equity, and Accountability Act of 2026 H.R. 10068/S.5312 Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction (PROTECT) Act Issues: CDC tobacco prevention and cessation programs and funding Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping Federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes FDA oversight of nicotine pouches FDA regulation of tobacco products[LG1.1] Potential Flavors Legislation Potential [LG2.1]Tobacco Control Legislation Regulation of Menthol Cigarettes Tobacco Impact on Maternal Health Tobacco Graphic Warnings Tobacco User Fees OMB Federal financial Assistance Rule [LG3.1] Tobacco Harm Reduction Modified Risk Tobacco Products Agencies Visited:   Food and Drug Administration  US House of Representatives   US Senate Office of Management and Budget Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Client expense: $270,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

Access to Care One Big Beautiful Bill, P.L. 119-21. Advocate to protect cancer patients in implementation of changes to Medicaid under the law. Health Care Affordability Act, H.R.247, S.46. Bill would permanently extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits. Association Health Plans Act, H.R.2528, S.1847. This bill would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to treat association health plans as employers. Self-Insurance Protection Act, H.R. 2571. This bill would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exclude from the definition of health insurance coverage certain medical stop-loss insurance. Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act, H.R. 3037/S.1500. To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage from imposing cost-sharing requirements with respect to diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventative Services Act of 2025, H.R.2319, S.1157. This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services working with the Department of Defense, to conduct an interagency review to evaluate the status of and identify opportunities for research on women and lunch cancer preventative services. Safe Step Act, H.R. 5509, S. 2903. Bill would require an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol in commercial insurance plans. Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, H.R. 5145. Bill would extend the enhanced ACA tax credits for one year. Breaking the Gridlock Act, H.R. 1834. Bill would extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years. Common Ground for Affordable Health Care Act, H.R.6575. Bill would extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for one year and make other adjustments. Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, H.R.6501. Bill would extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for two years and make other adjustments. Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act, H.R.5439, S.2834. The bill would create a pilot program in Medicare for beneficiaries with diet-related diseases to receive medically tailored meals to their own home. Womens Health and Cancer Rights Modernization Act of 2025, H.R.5813. This bill amends the Womens Health & Cancer Rights Act to require that commercial health plans provide coverage of breast or wall reconstruction provided as part of breast cancer treatment. HELP Copays Act, H.R. 6423, S. 864. Bill would apply financial assistance towards the cost-sharing requirements of health insurance plans. Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act, H.R.1406. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the coverage of additional lung cancer screening tests under the Medicare program. Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act, H.R. 5162, S. 5287. This bill will authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to States to increase awareness and education for colorectal cancer and improve early detection of colorectal cancer. Mobile Cancer Screening Act, H.R. 4417, S. 2927. The bill would award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for supporting new mobile cancer screening units to expand patient access to essential screening services in rural and underserved communities. Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2026, H.R.8358, S.4318. This bill would allow the U.S. Postal Service to extend its authority to issue the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp for 10 more years to raise funding for breast cancer research. Recognizing April as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, H.Res.1196. The resolution would uplift the national commitment to cancer prevention and early detection to reduce the cancer burden and improve health outcomes for all Americans. Womens Health and Cancer Rights Modernization Act of 2025, H.R.5813. This bill would require group health plans and health insurers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to cover specified breast or chest wall reconstruction services related to breast cancer treatment. Medical Records Access Fairness Act, H.R.7790. The bill would require health care providers to give patients free access to their medical records at least once a year. Expand Navigators Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity (ENROLL) Act, S.2024/H.R.3907. This bill would extend funding for the Marketplace navigator program. Health Disparities Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS for Cancer Act, H.R. 2381, S.1866. Reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2030 to provide the program greater flexibility in providing access to lifesaving screening, diagnostic, and treatment services and continue its innovative work aimed to reduce disparities and advance health equity in breast and cervical cancer. Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, H.R. 4541, S. 2339. This bill would reauthorize the CDC program that supports young and high-risk women as well as their providers to better understand breast health. Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-Risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act, H.R. 1300, S. 297. Legislation to remove cost sharing of PSA testing for those at the highest risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act, H.R.1406. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the coverage of additional lung cancer screening tests under the Medicare program. Data Equity. Legislative and regulatory funding to support the collection of detailed demographic data toward reducing disparities in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Prevent HPV Cancer Act of 2025, H.R. 6561. This bill would create a national public awareness campaign to promote education and awareness of HPV and HPV-associated cancers and would increase funding for the NBCCED program to boost breast and cervical cancer screening. Health Equity and Accountability Act, H.R.9877, S.5066. This bill advances policies to reduce health disparities and improve cancer prevention, research, and care for underserved communities. Childhood Cancer Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Reauthorization Act (STAR) Act. Continued implementation and funding of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act to promote the development of new, safer therapies for children with cancer. Our appropriations request includes $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, P.L. 119-75. Legislation that alleviates these burdens for families and providers by facilitating coordination across state lines and clarifying the process by which state Medicaid programs can cover specialized treatment regardless of where the child lives and where their care is received. Give Kids and Chance Act of 2025, P.L. 119-75. Legislation that would accelerate pediatric cancer treatments and expand access to live-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases, spur drug development for pediatric rare diseases, improve outcomes for patients, and close gaps in pediatric drug research. One Big Beautiful Bill, P.L. 119-21, Advocate to protect pediatric cancer patients in implementation of changes to Medicaid under the law. Quality of Life Palliative Care Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), S. 22870, H.R. 4425. Legislation to facilitate access to palliative care and coordinated care management. Palliative Care Research Funding. Funding to focus and expand national research programs in palliative care at the National Institutes of Health. Specifically, ACS CAN is working to include funding for palliative care research in the FY26 LHHS Appropriations bill. Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, H.R. 8839, S.5052. The bill would create pathways to address the financial challenges of cancer survivorship and maintain patients access to the health services needed to address the long-term effects of cancer. Federal Health Care Programs Department of Defense Cancer Research Funding. Ensure continued funding for cancer research within the DOD's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. Clinical Trials Clinical Trial Modernization Act, H.R. 3521, S. 4440. Increase access to clinical trials for all persons with cancer to participate by reducing barriers to enrollment including support for and remote access to trials. Harley Jacobson Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act, H.R. 4184, S.5127. Legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain compensation to clinical trial participants.