EASE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2533
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-01: 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
- 2026-06-25T08:09:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act of 2025 (EASE Act of 2025) aims to expand access to specialty health services—such as those from cardiologists or oncologists—for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in rural and underserved areas. It does this by requiring the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), a part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to test a new payment and delivery model using digital tools like telehealth.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Model Testing: CMMI must test the "Specialty Health Care Services Access Model," which involves contracts with selected provider networks to deliver specialty care remotely (e.g., via video consultations or other digital technologies). These services must be coordinated with the patient's primary care provider.
- Provider Network Selection: Networks must include at least 50 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs, community clinics serving low-income areas), rural health clinics (RHCs), critical access hospitals (small rural hospitals), or rural emergency hospitals. At least half must be in rural areas. Networks must be nonprofits with a proven track record in rural and underserved communities across multiple U.S. regions and the ability to handle data collection and analysis.
- Eligible Beneficiaries: The model applies to:
- People enrolled in Medicare (for hospital or outpatient services).
- Those enrolled in Medicaid (health coverage for low-income individuals) or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, for children in low-income families), who live in rural or underserved areas as defined by CMS.
- Funding Rules: Any funds used must follow restrictions from a 2022 law (Public Law 117-328) that applies to community health programs under the Public Health Service Act, ensuring money supports underserved populations without new appropriations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1115A of the Social Security Act, which created CMMI to experiment with new ways to pay for and deliver Medicare and Medicaid services.
- Adds this specific model as a required test (labeled as clause xxviii), making it mandatory alongside other voluntary models CMMI can choose. This introduces a new subsection (h) detailing the model's structure, shifting from optional innovation to a directed effort focused on rural specialty care access via digital means.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: CMS and CMMI will need to select networks, oversee implementation, and evaluate results, potentially increasing administrative workload but using existing innovation authority without mandating new funding.
- On Citizens: Rural and underserved Medicare and Medicaid/CHIP enrollees could gain easier access to specialists without long travel, reducing barriers to timely care and possibly improving health outcomes for conditions needing expertise.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Beneficiaries: Medicare enrollees (mostly seniors and disabled individuals) and Medicaid/CHIP participants (low-income families, children, and pregnant individuals) in rural or underserved areas, who may benefit from reduced travel and faster specialist access.
- Healthcare Providers: FQHCs, RHCs, critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, and primary care providers in selected networks, who gain opportunities to deliver and coordinate specialty services digitally.
- Nonprofit Networks: Organizations supporting rural health that meet the selection criteria, enabling them to expand services and data capabilities.
- Government Entities: CMS/CMMI for model design and testing; potentially state Medicaid agencies for coordination.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on CMMI's existing authority to test models without creating new entitlements or spending, avoiding budget scorekeeping issues. The funding tie to prior law ensures compliance with community health grant rules, promoting accountability.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and spend on public welfare, emphasizing equitable healthcare access.
- Political: Sponsored bipartisanship (Republican and Democratic representatives) highlights focus on rural health disparities, potentially influencing future innovation models. It encourages telehealth expansion post-COVID without broad mandates, balancing innovation with targeted rural support.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]
Cosponsors (19)
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-01: 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.
- 2025-04-01: 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.
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Ensuring Access to Specialty care Everywhere Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-01 — PDF (5 pages)