Protect Our Hospitals Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4807

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-11-01T08:05:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Protect Our Hospitals Act" (H.R. 4807) aims to reverse specific modifications to how states can use provider taxes—fees imposed on healthcare providers—to fund Medicaid, a joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income individuals. By repealing these changes, the bill seeks to restore prior flexibility for states and protect hospital funding.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The legislation is titled the "Protect Our Hospitals Act."
• Repeal of Specific Section: It fully repeals Section 71115 of Public Law 119-21 (likely a recent appropriations or budget act), which had altered rules on Medicaid provider taxes.
• Restoration of Prior Law: All provisions affected by the repealed section are automatically restored to their state before Public Law 119-21 was enacted, as if the changes never occurred.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill directly undoes restrictions or adjustments introduced in Section 71115 of Public Law 119-21, which presumably limited how states could structure or increase provider taxes to maximize federal Medicaid matching funds (where the federal government matches state spending).
• Provider taxes are a common state mechanism to generate revenue for Medicaid without raising general taxes; the repeal would eliminate any new caps, reporting requirements, or prohibitions added by the prior law, reverting to the pre-2025 framework under the Social Security Act.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State Medicaid agencies could regain flexibility in financing, potentially increasing federal Medicaid expenditures through higher matching funds. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would need to adjust oversight and approvals accordingly.
• On Citizens: Low-income individuals relying on Medicaid might benefit indirectly from sustained or enhanced hospital services, as restored funding could prevent service cuts or closures. However, it could also influence overall state budgets and taxes.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic health policy matter.
• Broader fiscal effects might include higher federal spending on Medicaid, estimated in billions depending on state adoption, without corresponding offsets in the bill.

Main Stakeholders

• Hospitals and Healthcare Providers: Primary beneficiaries, as they face the provider taxes but also receive boosted Medicaid reimbursements; repeal could safeguard their financial stability.
• State Governments: Gain restored tools for Medicaid funding, aiding budget management in healthcare.
• Federal Government: Particularly CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services, which administer Medicaid and bear a portion of costs.
• Medicaid Beneficiaries: Over 80 million low-income Americans who depend on the program for coverage, potentially facing fewer disruptions in care access.
• Taxpayers: Both federal and state, as changes could affect public funding levels.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The repeal is straightforward under congressional authority to amend prior laws, with no apparent conflicts to the Social Security Act's Medicaid framework. It restores status quo without introducing new enforcement mechanisms.
• Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with federalism principles allowing states flexibility in welfare programs under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
• Political: As a targeted reversal of recent budget provisions, it highlights partisan divides on healthcare spending—sponsored by Democrats, it may signal efforts to counter perceived cuts to safety-net providers. Could influence future appropriations debates on Medicaid financing sustainability.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Protect Our Hospitals Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (2 pages)