Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 Jul 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What this bill does
S. 4989, the "Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act," aims to address diagnostic errors in health care, which Congress identifies as a major source of preventable patient harm and wasted spending. The bill would direct the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to create a research and quality-improvement program on diagnostic errors, including funding for research centers and an advisory committee that includes patients and families. It also requires AHRQ to design a voluntary system for patients and caregivers to report diagnostic errors and near misses, with reports protected from use in legal proceedings and used only for improvement purposes. Additional provisions promote standardized health data elements for diagnosis research, expand existing training/fellowship programs to cover diagnostic safety, and add diagnostic safety to federal quality-measure development efforts.
The bill would affect federal health agencies (AHRQ, CDC, CMS, NIH, FDA, VA, and others), researchers, health care providers, and patients/families, by creating new federal infrastructure, funding streams, and reporting tools intended to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce associated costs. It also establishes an Interagency Council on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care to coordinate federal research efforts and produce periodic strategic plans and reports to Congress.
The bill authorizes specific funding levels for these programs through various fiscal years (mostly 2027–2031). It was introduced in the Senate on July 15, 2026, by Senator Van Hollen with Senator Luján, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. No further action has occurred; the bill would need committee consideration and votes in both chambers before possible enactment.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
15 Jul 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Common questions
- What does S. 4989 do?
- S. 4989, the "Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act," aims to address diagnostic errors in health care, which Congress identifies as a major source of preventable patient harm and wasted spending. The bill would direct the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to create a research and quality-improvement program on diagnostic errors, including funding for research centers and an advisory committee that includes patients and families. It also requires AHRQ to design a voluntary system for patients and caregivers to report diagnostic errors and near misses, with reports protected from use in legal proceedings and used only for improvement purposes. Additional provisions promote standardized health data elements for diagnosis research, expand existing training/fellowship programs to cover diagnostic safety, and add diagnostic safety to federal quality-measure development efforts. The bill would affect federal health agencies (AHRQ, CDC, CMS, NIH, FDA, VA, and others), researchers, health care providers, and patients/families, by creating new federal infrastructure, funding streams, and reporting tools intended to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce associated costs. It also establishes an Interagency Council on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care to coordinate federal research efforts and produce periodic strategic plans and reports to Congress. The bill authorizes specific funding levels for these programs through various fiscal years (mostly 2027–2031). It was introduced in the Senate on July 15, 2026, by Senator Van Hollen with Senator Luján, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. No further action has occurred; the bill would need committee consideration and votes in both chambers before possible enactment.
- Has S. 4989 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4989. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4989?
- S. 4989 was sponsored by Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 4989?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (15 Jul 2026).
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