Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 8765

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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

2026-05-28T19:27:05Z

AI-Generated Summary

Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026 (H.R. 8765)

Purpose

This legislation aims to increase focus on primary care within Federal health care programs by mandating annual spending reports and creating a working group to develop recommendations for improving access, availability, and quality of primary care services.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The Act is named the "Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026."
• Annual Reports on Primary Care Spending:
• Amends Part A of Title XI of the Social Security Act by adding Section 1150D.
• Requires heads of Federal agencies administering Federal health care programs (as defined in Section 1128B) or the health program under Chapter 89 of Title 5, United States Code, to submit reports to Congress.
• Reports must detail, for the prior year:
• Total Federal funds spent or obligated attributable to primary care (as defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).
• The percentage of total health benefits spending attributable to primary care.
• First report due within 1 year of enactment, with annual updates thereafter.
• Working Group on Primary Care:
• Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Working Group within 1 year of enactment.
• The group must study and recommend:
• Ways for Federal health care programs to prioritize primary care spending.
• Strategies to increase accessibility of primary care providers (as defined by the Secretary).
• Improvements to the availability and quality of primary care services, including in rural and medically underserved areas (as defined by the Working Group).
• Membership includes representatives from relevant Federal agencies and nongovernmental entities, as determined by the Secretary.
• Must submit a report to Congress within 1 year of establishment.
• Requires consultation with states and relevant nongovernmental entities, such as those representing patients, health care professionals, researchers, or health care industries.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces new mandatory reporting requirements on primary care spending for Federal health care programs, which were not previously required under Title XI of the Social Security Act.
• Establishes a new interagency and nongovernmental working group focused on primary care prioritization, without altering core structures of existing programs like Medicare or Medicaid.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and others managing Federal health programs, due to new data collection and reporting obligations.
• Citizens: May lead to policy recommendations that enhance primary care access, particularly for individuals in rural or medically underserved areas, though no direct changes to benefits or eligibility are specified.
• International Relations: No provisions affect international relations or foreign policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal agencies administering health care programs.
• Primary care providers and health care professionals.
• Patients, especially those in rural and underserved communities.
• States, through required consultation.
• Nongovernmental entities, including patient advocates, researchers, and health care industry representatives.
• Congress, as the recipient of required reports and recommendations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• The bill operates within existing Federal authority over health care programs under the Social Security Act, with no apparent constitutional challenges regarding federal spending or agency powers.
• It promotes cross-agency collaboration without creating new regulatory enforcement mechanisms.
• Sponsors represent a bipartisan group, suggesting potential for broad support in prioritizing primary care access.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2026-05-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2026-05-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Prioritizing Primary Care Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (4 pages)