August 18, 2026
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) has introduced the Connecting Health and Records Technology for Seniors (CHARTS) Act (H.R. 9844). The bill would create a competitive Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant program to help post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) providers adopt, upgrade, and optimize electronic health record (EHR) systems and improve interoperability across care settings.
The legislation addresses a gap dating back to the 2009 HITECH Act, which provided EHR incentives to hospitals and physicians but largely excluded skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and home health agencies. Under the CHARTS Act, HHS would award grants of up to $500,000 per provider, funded at $5 million per year for FY2027 and FY2028, and would report to Congress on whether the program should be expanded.
The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees. PALTmed's Government Affairs Committee is reviewing the legislation to determine whether the association will support it.