Congress has passed an appropriations package funding Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2026. The legislation includes several high-priority provisions championed by the ACC that will strengthen cardiovascular care, support clinicians and improve patient access. The President signed the bill into law today.

Key victories in the final bill include:

• Extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027.
• Reestablishing in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services through Jan. 1, 2028.
• Increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and maintaining funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Authorizing support for state-based maternal mortality review committees through FY 2030.
• Reauthorizing clinician well-being programs through FY 2030.
• Boosting funding for valvular heart disease research and awareness initiatives.

These wins showcase the direct impact of member engagement in ACC's annual Legislative Conference, grassroots alerts, advocacy days and local practice visits. Together, these efforts ensured that ACC priorities made it into the final legislation.

ACC Advocacy will continue to advance policies that support clinicians, expand access to care and drive better patient outcomes. For more recent successes, read about ACC Advocacy's top 10 highlights from 2025.

Clinical Topics: Valvular Heart Disease

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, National Institutes of Health (U.S.), Telemedicine, Policy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S., Heart Valve Diseases, Medicare, Maternal Mortality