HR6977-119

What This Bill Does

The Better Care for PFAS Patients Act of 2026 creates a recurring clinical guidance process for PFAS exposure. Within 60 days, the Director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry must enter an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or another appropriate entity if the National Academies declines. The entity must assess health effects of PFAS that can be measured in human tissues, formulate clinical recommendations, complete an initial assessment within two years, and update the assessment every five years or more often if the Director determines the science requires it. The entity must engage PFAS-exposed communities and solicit input about exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up. Based on the assessment, ATSDR must issue, post, and disseminate up-to-date clinical guidance within five years and every five years afterward or more often as needed.

Who Benefits and How

PFAS-exposed communities benefit because the assessment must include their experiences with exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up. Physicians, nurses, toxicologists, and State and local public health authorities benefit from recurring clinical guidance on measurable PFAS health effects. ATSDR benefits from an expert National Academies process that can translate evolving science into clinical recommendations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

ATSDR staff must execute the agreement within 60 days, monitor the two-year assessment deadline, judge when science requires faster updates, post guidance publicly, and disseminate it to public health authorities and clinicians. The National Academies or substitute entity must conduct scientific assessments, engage affected communities, formulate recommendations, and update them every five years. Health care professionals may need to adjust testing, counseling, and follow-up practices as guidance changes.

Key Provisions

• Requires ATSDR to contract with the National Academies or another appropriate entity within 60 days.
• Requires assessment of PFAS health effects measurable in human tissues and clinical recommendations within two years.
• Requires engagement with PFAS-exposed communities about exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up.
• Requires updated assessments and recommendations every five years or more often as science requires.
• Requires ATSDR to issue, post, and disseminate clinical guidance to public health authorities and health care professionals.