Preventive Home Visit Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2829
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-18T19:47:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Social Security Act to add Medicare coverage for preventive home visits. The goal is to allow qualified professionals to assess an individual's home environment, identify health risks, and refer for interventions that may improve physical function, balance, strength, mobility, fall prevention, and nutrition.
Key Provisions
- Defines a "preventive home visit" as an assessment by a qualified professional or team (as determined by the Secretary), limited to once every two years.
- The visit may be conducted in person, remotely, or through a combination of both.
- Adds the service to the list of covered Medicare Part B benefits.
- Requires Medicare to pay 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or a bundled payment amount set by the Secretary.
- Prohibits coverage if the visit occurs more frequently than allowed.
- Applies to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new covered service category under Medicare (Section 1861(nnn)) and updates payment rules (Section 1833 and Section 1834) to include full reimbursement for these visits. It also adds a frequency limit to the general Medicare exclusions in Section 1862.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to define qualified professionals, establish bundled payment rates, and administer the new benefit.
- Citizens: Expands access to preventive assessments for Medicare beneficiaries, potentially supporting efforts to reduce falls and improve nutrition at home.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare beneficiaries (particularly older adults and individuals with disabilities).
- Qualified healthcare professionals and teams authorized to perform the visits.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which must implement payment and coverage rules.
- Healthcare providers and organizations that may receive referrals from these visits.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill expands a federal entitlement program through amendments to existing Medicare statutes. It raises no unique constitutional issues beyond standard congressional authority to regulate and fund the Medicare program. Implementation will depend on regulatory definitions and payment rates set by the Secretary.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2025-09-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Preventive Home Visit Act — issued 2025-09-17 — PDF (4 pages)