PARTNERS Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8726
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-11: 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
- 2026-06-09T08:06:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The PARTNERS Act of 2026 (H.R. 8726) aims to empower states to enforce federal requirements on Medicare Advantage (MA) plans—private health insurance options that provide Medicare benefits to eligible seniors and people with disabilities—in addition to existing federal oversight.
Key Provisions
- State Enforcement Authority: States can require MA organizations (private insurers offering MA plans) to comply with federal MA standards for plans issued, sold, renewed, or offered within that state.
- Federal-State Coordination: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (who oversees Medicare through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS) must coordinate enforcement efforts with:
- The state where the MA organization is licensed.
- Any state where the organization offers MA plans.
- Collaborative Agreements: CMS may enter into agreements with states to streamline and enhance joint enforcement.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1856(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (which governs MA plan standards).
- Previously, this section established federal standards without explicit state enforcement roles; the bill adds explicit permission for states to enforce these standards (new subparagraph B) and mandates coordination (new subparagraph C), shifting from primarily federal to shared federal-state responsibility.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and collaboration between CMS and state insurance regulators, potentially improving efficiency through joint efforts but requiring new agreements and communication.
- Citizens (Medicare Beneficiaries): May lead to stronger oversight of MA plans, addressing issues like improper denials of care or billing problems, potentially improving access to services and plan accountability.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and State Regulators: Gain new enforcement tools over MA plans operating locally.
- Medicare Advantage Organizations: Face potential dual federal-state oversight, increasing compliance requirements.
- CMS/Secretary of Health and Human Services: Must coordinate with states and form partnerships.
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Indirectly benefit from enhanced protections against plan misconduct.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Clarifies and expands state authority under federal law, reducing potential federal preemption (where federal rules override state ones) in MA regulation; promotes cooperative federalism.
- Constitutional: Aligns with states' traditional role in insurance regulation under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, without altering core federal Medicare authority.
- Political: Could appeal to bipartisan interests in consumer protection and state rights, as introduced by Reps. Downing (R) and Doggett (D); 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
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-11: 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.
- 2026-05-11: 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.
- 2026-05-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (2 pages)