Healthcare (Medicare)

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9703: Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026

This bill directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to test a new payment model that allows blood transfusions for hospice patients to be billed separately from the standard daily hospice rate. Under this proposed change, Medicare would reimburse these transfusions at the same rate used when they are provided outside of a hospice setting. The legislation requires the agency to evaluate the model by comparing patient outcomes, such as hospital visits and chemotherapy use, between those receiving the new payment structure and similar patients under the current system. This initiative aims to determine if separating the payment for blood transfusions impacts care delivery and resource utilization for individuals receiving end-of-life care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to blood transfusions for hospice patients by allowing separate billing, improving care options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9644: Medicare Advantage MLR Transparency Act

The Medicare Advantage MLR Transparency Act requires insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans to publicly disclose detailed financial data starting in 2029. Under this bill, each plan must report how much total revenue it collects and specifically how much is spent on actual medical claims versus administrative overhead costs. The law also mandates that this financial information be presented in a consumer-friendly format and aligns the way benefits are displayed with standards used by other health insurance plans. These changes aim to give Medicare beneficiaries clearer insight into how their premiums are utilized by the plans they choose.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency in Medicare Advantage plans, helping consumers make informed decisions and protecting patient rights through better financial disclosure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9645: Health Care Price Certainty for All Americans Act

This bill requires hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly post detailed price lists for their services, including standard charges, negotiated rates, and discounted cash prices, starting in 2027. It also mandates that private health insurance plans provide consumers with cost-sharing estimates and publish quarterly data on payment rates to doctors and pharmacies beginning in 2029. Additionally, the legislation requires Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan sponsors to report ownership details for providers and pharmacies they control, while establishing civil penalties for entities that fail to comply with these transparency rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency and patient access to pricing information, empowering consumers to make informed healthcare decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 9642: Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

The Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act changes how Medicare pays for anesthesia services at specific small rural hospitals and critical access hospitals. To qualify for these changes, a hospital must be located in a rural area, have fewer than 800 surgeries requiring anesthesia, and employ or contract with no more than one full-time anesthesiologist who agrees not to bill Medicare separately for those services. Once a hospital meets these criteria, anesthesia care provided by an anesthesiologist there will be paid based on the hospital's actual costs rather than a fixed fee, and it will be classified as part of the hospital's inpatient services instead of a separate billable service. The law also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to update its regulations to reflect these new payment rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to anesthesia services in rural hospitals by adjusting payment structures, directly supporting healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9488: Health Disparity Zones Act of 2026

The Health Disparity Zones Act of 2026 creates a program to designate specific geographic areas with high poverty, low life expectancy, and poor health outcomes as Health Disparity Zones. Once designated, these zones become eligible for a ten-year period of financial support, including a 10% increase in Medicare payments for services provided there, grants for community organizations, and tax credits for hiring local healthcare workers. The bill also establishes a student loan repayment program to encourage healthcare practitioners to work in these areas and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report annually on the program's progress and effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases Medicare payments, provides grants, and offers tax credits for hiring healthcare workers in designated zones.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill includes a student loan repayment program for residents of designated health disparity zones, enhancing educational access and financial support for students in high-need areas.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates high-need areas for funding, increases Medicare payments, and offers grants and tax credits to improve healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill includes tax credits for hiring local healthcare workers and student loan repayment, directly supporting employment and workforce development in designated zones.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4924: Preserving Patient Access Act

The Preserving Patient Access Act requires health insurance plans to grant special enrollment periods when they remove a doctor from their network or stop covering a specific prescription drug that a patient has used recently. Under this bill, Medicare Advantage and individual market plans must allow individuals to join or switch plans within the same year if their current provider becomes out-of-network after a visit within the last two years or if a covered medication is dropped from the formulary within the last six months. These protections apply to both Medicare Advantage plans and private individual market plans, ensuring that patients can maintain access to their preferred doctors and medications without waiting for the annual open enrollment window. The changes are scheduled to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient access by requiring special enrollment periods when providers are removed or drugs are dropped, preventing loss of care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jul 17, 2026

HR 9544: Save MEDICARE Act of 2026

The Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 aims to improve the Medicare Advantage program by starting in 2028 with several changes to how health plans are paid and monitored. It requires the government to exclude diagnoses from chart reviews when calculating payments to prevent plans from inflating costs based on questionable data. The bill also speeds up audits and appeals to ensure faster resolution of coding disputes and introduces a new penalty system to recover overpayments from plans. Additionally, the law allows states to enforce Medicare rules within their borders and bans financial incentives for doctors based on how they code patient records. Finally, it establishes a mechanism for the Department of Veterans Affairs to recover costs when Medicare Advantage plans cover care that should have been paid for by the VA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens Medicare Advantage by improving payment integrity, speeding up appeals, and recovering overpayments to protect beneficiaries.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4913: MOMMIES Act

The MOMMIES Act expands Medicaid and CHIP coverage for low-income pregnant individuals by extending postpartum benefits from 60 days to one year and mandating full coverage of oral health services during this period. To support these changes, the bill includes a maintenance of effort provision that prevents states from reducing eligibility standards or benefit levels for pregnant individuals until 2027, alongside a 100 percent federal funding match for states that increase spending on this population. A major component is a five-year demonstration project that provides grants to states to implement maternity care home models, which coordinate comprehensive medical and social support services like housing assistance and mental health care to improve birth equity and outcomes. The legislation also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance on covering doula services and directs the Government Accountability Office to study the use of telehealth and gaps in coverage for pregnant and postpartum people.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid/CHIP coverage, extends postpartum benefits to one year, mandates oral health coverage, and provides 100% federal funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4898: Medicaid RAC Improvement Act of 2026

The Medicaid RAC Improvement Act of 2026 strengthens oversight of the Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor program to improve how states identify and recover improper payments. It requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish clear expiration dates for state exceptions to the program, mandate detailed annual reports on audit results, and ensure managed care organizations are included in these reviews. Additionally, the bill directs the agency to study barriers preventing states from participating and to launch a five-year demonstration project aimed at increasing state engagement. The legislation also extends the standard audit period to allow reviews of payments made over the previous four fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens oversight to recover improper payments, promoting fiscal responsibility and protecting state budgets from waste.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens Medicaid oversight to recover improper payments, ensuring funds are used for legitimate healthcare services and protecting program integrity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Medicaid Medicare Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Jun 29, 2026

HR 9532: No Medicare Clawbacks Act of 2026

The No Medicare Clawbacks Act of 2026 prevents group health plans from taking back money they have already paid for medical services if a patient later becomes eligible for Medicare benefits. This rule applies specifically when the medical care was provided during a period of retroactive Medicare coverage and the patient was current on their required health plan contributions at the time of service. By amending the Social Security Act, the bill ensures that individuals do not face financial penalties for receiving care before their Medicare eligibility is officially recognized. The legislation directly affects employers offering group health plans and their employees who might otherwise face recouped payments due to delayed Medicare enrollment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents financial clawbacks for patients, protecting access to care and reducing financial penalties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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