Hospice CARE Act of 2026
The Hospice CARE Act of 2026 introduces stricter oversight and payment reforms for Medicare hospice programs. It temporarily halts enrollment of new hospice programs for five years, with exemptions for areas lacking adequate care access, while requiring enhanced surveys and ownership reporting for existing programs. The bill also mandates that physicians certifying terminal illness must not have financial ties to the hospice program, expands who can make these certifications, and requires face-to-face patient encounters before recertification. Payment adjustments include higher rates for specific palliative services and new rules for respite care, alongside stricter penalties for programs that fail to meet quality reporting standards.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 17, 2026
Last action Mar 17, 2026
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Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 17, 2026
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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