Improving Medicare Services Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8216
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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
- 2026-05-08T08:06:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Improving Medicare Services Act of 2026 (H.R. 8216) directs the Comptroller General of the United States—who leads the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent agency that audits federal programs—to conduct a study on 1-800-MEDICARE, the phone helpline for Medicare inquiries, and report findings to Congress.
Key Provisions
- The GAO must complete the study and submit a report to Congress within 1 year of the bill's enactment.
- The report must analyze available data on:
- Customer wait times and overall satisfaction.
- Staffing competency (skills) and staffing levels.
- Performance of contractors running the helpline.
- Any improvements or declines in service compared to prior GAO studies.
- Recommendations to improve the helpline, directed to Congress or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Actions taken by HHS or contractors in response to previous GAO recommendations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new mandate for a GAO study specifically on 1-800-MEDICARE; no amendments to existing Medicare laws or operations.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires HHS and GAO to review and potentially improve helpline efficiency; may lead to better resource allocation for Medicare services.
- Citizens: Could enhance access to Medicare information for beneficiaries (mainly seniors and people with disabilities), reducing wait times and improving support.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare beneficiaries: Primary users of the helpline.
- HHS and its contractors: Subject to performance review and recommendations.
- Congress: Receives the report to inform future oversight or legislation.
- GAO: Tasked with conducting the study.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Standard congressional oversight: Reinforces Congress's role in monitoring federal programs via GAO studies; no challenges to separation of powers or constitutional issues.
- Political neutrality: Bipartisan sponsors (Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Correa, Mr. Barrett); focuses on service improvements without mandating policy changes.
- Referred to House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Improving Medicare Services Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (2 pages)