Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6160
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: 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
- 2026-05-01T08:08:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill amends Medicare rules to update payments for physician services under the Medicare physician fee schedule. It ties future annual updates to an economic measure of practice costs, aiming to adjust payments based on changes in the Medicare economic index (MEI), which tracks inflation and other costs for medical practices.
Key Provisions Outlined
- The bill creates a single conversion factor (a multiplier used to calculate Medicare payments for doctor services) starting in 2026.
- For 2026 and later years, the annual update to this conversion factor equals the estimated percentage increase in the MEI.
- It removes language that previously allowed for two separate conversion factors and limited the single-factor structure to years through 2025.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Current law ends the two-conversion-factor system after 2025; this bill confirms and extends a single factor while adding a specific update mechanism based on the MEI.
- It replaces any prior update method for physician payments with one directly linked to MEI growth, potentially replacing fixed or zero updates in future years.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would calculate and apply the MEI-based updates annually, affecting Medicare spending projections.
- Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries may see changes in physician payment rates, which could influence provider participation and service availability.
- International relations: None identified, as the legislation focuses solely on domestic Medicare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Physicians and other health care providers who bill Medicare.
- Medicare beneficiaries who receive physician services.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the fee schedule.
- Congress, through its role in setting Medicare payment policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, a core Medicare statute, through standard legislative process.
- It introduces no apparent constitutional issues, as it falls within Congress's authority to regulate federal spending programs.
- The measure is presented as bipartisan, with sponsors from both parties, and focuses on technical adjustments to payment formulas without broader structural reforms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: 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.
- 2025-11-19: 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.
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (2 pages)