Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2477
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 aims to expand Medicare coverage to include transportation and setup services for portable ultrasound equipment. This ensures that these services receive fair reimbursement, similar to existing coverage for portable X-ray services, promoting equitable access to diagnostic imaging in settings like homes or remote locations.
Key Provisions
- Coverage Expansion: Amends Section 1861(s)(3) of the Social Security Act to include "diagnostic X-ray and ultrasound tests" under Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient services.
- Separate Payment for Transportation and Setup: Adds a new subsection (aa) to Section 1834 of the Social Security Act, requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide distinct payments for portable ultrasound transportation and setup services. These payments must mirror those for portable X-ray services.
- Supplier Requirements: Establishes rules for suppliers of portable ultrasound services, modeled after regulations for portable X-ray suppliers (found in federal rules under 42 CFR Part 486, Subpart C). This ensures suppliers meet standards for quality and safety.
- Effective Date: Applies to services provided on or after January 1, 2027.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, Medicare covered transportation and setup only for portable X-ray services under diagnostic testing provisions. This bill extends the same framework to ultrasound tests, creating parity without altering core Medicare payment structures.
- Introduces specific regulatory alignment for ultrasound suppliers, adapting X-ray rules to this new category rather than creating entirely new ones.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will need to update payment systems and regulations, potentially increasing administrative workload but standardizing processes to reduce disparities in diagnostic service reimbursements.
- Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those in rural, homebound, or non-hospital settings (e.g., elderly or mobility-impaired individuals), may gain better access to portable ultrasound diagnostics, such as for prenatal care or cardiac monitoring, without added out-of-pocket costs for transport/setup.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic healthcare policy focused on U.S. Medicare.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Primary users who benefit from expanded, cost-covered diagnostic services.
- Healthcare Providers and Suppliers: Companies and technicians providing portable ultrasound services will receive reimbursements, encouraging service expansion.
- Payers and Insurers: CMS and Medicare fiscal intermediaries handle increased claims processing.
- Bipartisan Sponsors: Introduced by Representatives Van Duyne (R), Schneider (D), Miller-Meeks (R), and Trahan (D), indicating support from both parties in healthcare policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens Medicare's outpatient benefits under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act without requiring new appropriations, relying on existing payment mechanisms. It promotes equity by aligning ultrasound with X-ray coverage, potentially reducing legal challenges over service disparities.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; the bill exercises Congress's authority over federal spending and social welfare programs, consistent with the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan effort to address healthcare access gaps, particularly for portable diagnostics amid growing demand for non-invasive imaging. It could set a precedent for extending Medicare coverage to other emerging medical technologies, influencing future budget and reimbursement debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
Cosponsors (40)
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (3 pages)