summary
Introduced
07/15/2026
07/15/2026
In Committee
07/15/2026
07/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
119th Congress
Bill Summary
A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify certain physician payments under the Medicare program.
AI Summary
This bill, the Patients First Act of 2026, aims to modify how physicians are paid under Medicare, the federal health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. Key provisions include updating the "conversion factor," which is a component used to calculate payments for physician services, by linking it to the Medical Economic Index (MEI) and adjusting it based on whether a physician participates in an Alternative Payment Model (APM), a payment approach that rewards providers for quality and efficiency rather than just the volume of services. The bill also establishes a "hybrid payment model" for primary care services, offering monthly payments to qualifying primary care providers for each patient attributed to them, regardless of the specific services rendered, and aims to improve the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) by renaming it the "Patient Outcome Improvement National Tabulation System" (POINTS) and introducing "care efficiency" as a performance category, alongside other reforms to quality measurement and reporting. Additionally, it adjusts geographic payment adjustments for physicians in areas experiencing high inflation, expands access to Medicare claims data for research and quality improvement by qualified clinical data registries, and modifies requirements for appropriate use criteria for medical imaging services to improve decision-making and reduce unnecessary procedures. Finally, the bill addresses budget neutrality calculations for physician payments, which ensures that changes in payment rates do not increase overall Medicare spending, and introduces limitations on year-to-year changes in the physician payment conversion factor to promote stability.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (66)
John Joyce (R)*,
Brian Babin (R),
Nanette Barragán (D),
Ami Bera (D),
Sheri Biggs (R),
Gus Bilirakis (R),
Sanford Bishop (D),
Nikki Budzinski (D),
Janelle Bynum (D),
Salud Carbajal (D),
Buddy Carter (R),
Troy Carter (D),
Judy Chu (D),
Herbert Conaway (D),
Lou Correa (D),
Suzan DelBene (D),
Scott DesJarlais (R),
Maxine Dexter (D),
Debbie Dingell (D),
Neal Dunn (R),
Brad Finstad (R),
Brian Fitzpatrick (R),
Lizzie Fletcher (D),
James Gallagher (R),
Vicente Gonzalez (D),
Maggie Goodlander (D),
Andy Harris (R),
Diana Harshbarger (R),
Ashley Hinson (R),
Erin Houchin (R),
Chrissy Houlahan (D),
Bill Keating (D),
Robin Kelly (D),
Mike Kennedy (R),
Timothy Kennedy (D),
Darin LaHood (R),
Greg Landsman (D),
Mike Levin (D),
Zoe Lofgren (D),
Richard McCormick (R),
Dan Meuser (R),
Carol Miller (R),
Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R),
Tim Moore (R),
Joe Morelle (D),
Kelly Morrison (D),
Greg Murphy (R),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Robert Onder (R),
Jimmy Panetta (D),
Scott Peters (D),
Mark Pocan (D),
John Rutherford (R),
Kim Schrier (D),
Terri Sewell (D),
Eric Sorensen (D),
Tom Suozzi (D),
Shri Thanedar (D),
Bennie Thompson (D),
Lori Trahan (D),
Jeff Van Drew (R),
Beth Van Duyne (R),
Derrick Van Orden (R),
Gabe Vasquez (D),
Marc Veasey (D),
Randy Weber (R),
Last Action
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. (on 07/15/2026)
Bill Topics
Health
- ‐ Health Insurance Reform
- ‐ Regulation of Doctors and Health Facilities
- ‐ Research and Development
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9693/all-info | 07/16/2026 |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr9693/BILLS-119hr9693ih.pdf | 07/30/2026 |
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