Concurrent Care for Comfort Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8376

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-20: 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

2026-05-22T10:23:36Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill aims to update Medicare rules to allow certain individuals with end-stage kidney disease who choose hospice care to also receive palliative dialysis services. These services focus on comfort rather than cure or long-term maintenance. The goal is to clarify coverage and ensure separate payments for these services without disrupting the hospice care bundle.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Coverage Clarification: Amends existing law to explicitly include palliative dialysis services as an exception to the general hospice care rules, allowing them for eligible individuals.
• Separate Payment System: Requires Medicare to pay renal dialysis facilities and other providers separately for palliative dialysis, using a new methodology starting in 2026.
• Payment Details: Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop payment amounts based on existing dialysis rates, with possible adjustments for resources needed to provide care in facilities or at home.
• Session Limits: Caps coverage at 10 sessions per individual, with options to convert home dialysis days into equivalent sessions; the limit can be reviewed and changed starting in 2029 based on data and feedback.
• Cost-Sharing Rules: Applies the same deductibles and coinsurance as standard kidney dialysis services.
• Definitions: Defines "palliative dialysis services" as comfort-focused dialysis (including possible transportation) per a physician-certified plan, and "palliative dialysis eligible individuals" as those with end-stage kidney disease already on dialysis who elect hospice care.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

• Updates Section 1812 of the Social Security Act to add palliative dialysis to the list of services that can be covered alongside hospice care.
• Creates new paragraphs in Sections 1814 and 1881 to establish a distinct payment process outside the standard hospice payment bundle.
• Introduces a limit on sessions and a review process, which did not previously exist for this type of concurrent care.
• Clarifies that these changes do not affect coverage for regular dialysis in cases where hospice is elected for unrelated conditions.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to create and implement a new payment methodology through rulemaking, including data assessments and possible future adjustments.
• On Citizens: Allows more flexible care options for Medicare beneficiaries with advanced kidney disease, potentially improving comfort during end-of-life choices by combining hospice with limited dialysis.
• On International Relations: No direct effects, as this is a domestic Medicare policy change.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage kidney disease who elect hospice care.
• Renal dialysis facilities and providers of services that furnish dialysis.
• Hospice programs and their interdisciplinary care teams.
• Physicians involved in certifying care plans.
• The federal government, particularly agencies overseeing Medicare payments and policy.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

This legislation amends the Social Security Act to address potential gaps in Medicare hospice coverage, promoting concurrent care without altering core constitutional structures like federal authority over health programs. It may involve ongoing regulatory updates by the executive branch, which could lead to future congressional oversight or adjustments based on implementation data.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-20: 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.
• 2026-04-20: 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.
• 2026-04-20: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Concurrent Care for Comfort Act — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (8 pages)