Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 879
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-31: 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
- 2026-04-10T08:06:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 aims to provide temporary financial relief to physicians and other healthcare practitioners by extending adjustments to Medicare payments. This helps them adapt to ongoing reductions in reimbursement rates under the Medicare program, which covers health services for older adults and people with disabilities.
Key Provisions
- Extension of Payment Add-On: Amends Section 1848(t) of the Social Security Act to extend a temporary percentage increase in Medicare payments for certain services furnished by physicians and other practitioners.
- Covers services from 2021 through 2025 (previously limited to 2021–2024).
- Adds a specific 6.62% increase for services provided on or after April 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2026.
- Header Update: Changes the section title from referencing "2024" to "2025" for clarity.
- Conforming Change: Updates a related provision in Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(iv)(V) to include 2025 in the list of applicable years for these adjustments.
These changes apply to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which determines how much doctors are paid for services to Medicare patients.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Extends an existing temporary payment relief mechanism (originally set to expire after 2024) by one year, preventing a sudden drop in reimbursements.
- Introduces a new, targeted add-on percentage (6.62%) for the latter half of 2025, building on prior adjustments that provided varying increases (e.g., for 2024).
- No new programs are created; it modifies and prolongs current ones without altering the underlying fee schedule formula.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases short-term costs for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that administers Medicare, by boosting payments to providers. This could add to the federal budget for healthcare spending.
- On Citizens: Improves financial stability for healthcare providers, potentially maintaining or enhancing access to medical services for Medicare beneficiaries (about 65 million elderly and disabled Americans). Without this, some doctors might reduce services or stop accepting Medicare patients.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. healthcare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Physicians and Other Practitioners: Primary beneficiaries, as they receive higher reimbursements to offset payment cuts, helping sustain their practices.
- Medicare Patients: Indirectly benefit through better provider retention and access to care.
- Healthcare Organizations: Groups like medical associations (e.g., American Medical Association) that advocate for provider payments.
- Taxpayers and Government: Bear the cost through higher Medicare expenditures funded by federal taxes and premiums.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with Medicare's statutory framework by extending targeted relief without overhauling the payment system. No challenges to enforceability are evident, as it builds on prior congressional authorizations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and spend for the general welfare (under Article I), as Medicare is a federal entitlement program.
- Political: Bipartisan support is shown through co-sponsorship by lawmakers from both parties, reflecting broad agreement on supporting rural and urban providers amid payment pressures. It may influence future budget debates by committing funds to healthcare stability, potentially setting precedent for annual extensions if payment issues persist.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
Cosponsors (198)
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Conaway, Herbert [D-NJ-3], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Onder, Robert [R-MO-3], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Goldman, Craig [R-TX-12], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] and 148 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-31: 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.
- 2025-01-31: 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.
- 2025-01-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-31: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (2 pages)