Proposed legislation related to Social Security and Medicare: July 17, 2025 – August 15, 2025

Social Security, SSDI, Medicare, Medicare Advantage. The CHIP program will usually be wrapped into this legislation, and not Medicaid.

H.R.4475 – Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect beneficiaries with limb loss and other orthopedic conditions by providing access to appropriate, safe, effective, patient-centered orthotic and prosthetic care, to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse with respect to orthotics and prosthetics.
Introduced on July 17, 2025 by Glenn Thompson (R-PA). Cosponsored by nineteen Democrats and six Republicans. Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: The Republicans who broke rank are: Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Mike Bost (R-IL), Troy Balderson (R-OH), and Mike Kelly (R-PA). If one of these is your representative, please write them a thank-you note!
Where is John Joyce?

H.R.4484 – ADAPT Act. Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees Act. To expand psychological mental and behavioral health services to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries by permitting reimbursement of psychological services provided by certain supervised psychology trainees, and facilitating the reimbursement of those services.
Introduced on July 17, 2025 by Troy Balderson (R-OH). Cosponsored by two Democrats and one Republican, Carol Miller (R-WV). Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Where is John Joyce?

H.R.4545 – Medicare Breast Reconstruction Access and Information Act. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the provision of certain information with respect to breast reconstruction surgery under the Medicare program.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Maxine Waters (D-CA). Cosponsored by 29 Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.

H.R.4559 – Prompt and Fair Pay Act. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish payment parity between Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service Medicare, and to establish prompt payment requirements under Medicare Advantage.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). Cosponsored by Gregory Murphy (R-NC), Andy Harris (R-MD), and Terri Sewell (D-AL). Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.

H.R.4569 - Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition Act of 2025. To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require no-cost coverage of human milk fortifier.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by Morgan McGarvey (D-KY). Cosponsored by three Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.

H.R.4581 – 340B PATIENTS Act of 2025 (340B Pharmaceutical Access To Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support Act of 2025). To ensure the accessibility of drugs furnished through the drug discount program under section 340B of the Public Health Service Act.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by Doris Matsui (D-CA). Cosponsored by sixteen Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.

H.R.4606 – Ally’s Act. To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require coverage of hearing devices and systems in certain private health insurance plans.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by Joe Neguse (D-CO). Cosponsored by 9 Republicans and 57 Democrats. Referred to Ways and Means and Education and Workforce and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Note: From Rep. Neguse’s official congressional Web site: Congressman Joe Neguse announced the introduction of “Ally’s Act,” his bicameral, bipartisan legislation to ensure private insurance companies cover osseointegrated hearing devices (“OIDs”), including bone anchored hearing aids (“BAHA”) and cochlear implants. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined the reintroduction. A 13-year-old Coloradan, Ally, who was born without a right ear or hearing canal and requires the use of a BAHA, inspired the bill.
After Ally’s insurance company denied coverage of her hearing device, her mother, Melissa Tumblin, formed the organization Ear Community to advocate for insurance coverage of these devices to ensure no person is left unable to hear because of private insurance companies’ refusal to provide coverage. During his first term in Congress, Congressman Neguse received a letter from Ally detailing her circumstances; after learning about her situation Congressman Neguse introduced legislation to expand coverage for Americans like Ally.
“For Ally and for countless Americans across this nation, specialized hearing devices are critical for communicating. For insurance companies to deny coverage for these essential devices is unconscionable. We must continue to push for the enactment of this legislation to expand critical care for so many. I am thankful to Ally and her family for bringing this issue to our attention, and proud to continue the fight,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

H.R.4619 – Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act of 2025. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services under the Medicare Program.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by Paul Tonko (D-NY). Cosponsored by Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Shri Thanedar (D-MI). Referred to Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: For all the hullaballoo about mental health and the homeless and “guns don’t kill people, mentally ill people do,” it sure seems difficult to find support for mental health. This bill would eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services.

H.R.4623 – Plain Prescription Prices Act. To require direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include truthful and not misleading pricing information.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by Nikema Williams (D-GA). Cosponsored by three Republicans and one Democrat. Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
From the bill: Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (referred to in this section as the “Administrator”), shall promulgate regulations requiring each direct-to-consumer advertisement on television (including broadcast, cable, streaming, and satellite television) for a prescription drug or biological product for which payment is available under title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act to include a textual statement, which shall be truthful and not misleading, indicating the list price, as determined on the first day of the quarter during which the advertisement is being aired or otherwise broadcast, for a typical 30-day regimen or typical course of treatment (whichever is most appropriate).

H.R.4731 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Terri Sewell (D-AL). Cosponsored by 74 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: The Republicans who broke rank: Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Don Bacon (R-NE), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), and Mike Rogers (R-AL). If one of these is your representative, send them a Thank-You note!
Surprised that JOHN JOYCE (R-PA) did not cosponsor this bill. In 2021, the consolidated appropriations bill allowed Medicare to increase the number of Medicare-funded residencies at hospitals to make up for shortage of physicians. H.R.4731 would increase the number of residents funded by Medicare, since the 2021 appropriations funds have been used up. Read more on the official Medicare Web site.

H.R.4734 - Hands Off Our Social Security Act. To protect Social Security benefits and ensure the continued effective operation of the Social Security Administration.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Melanie Stansbury (D-CO). Cosponsored by thirty-seven Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment #1: Go, Melanie Stansbury! – Republicans are showing their true colors regarding Social Security. If they simply did not like Rep. Stansbury’s approach, they could have submitted an alternative piece of legislation. They did not.
Comment #2: Here is link to Melanie Stansbury’s introductory remarks on the floor of the House. She’s formidable. As is John Larson, who likewise spoke.
Comment #3: I can tell you exactly why there are no Republicans backing this bill. It includes the following provisions--Any action to modify Social Security benefits shall require an Act of Congress; no action shall be taken to privatize, outsource, or otherwise transfer Social Security benefits administration or services to private entities without express approval by an Act of Congress; and, no Federal officer, special government employee, or contractor shall collect, share, or use Social Security data or personally identifiable information of beneficiaries or applicants for any purpose other than administering Social Security programs consistent with existing privacy laws.
Please read this very short bill. It says what Republicans say in public. But will not commit to DOING.

H.R.4752 - Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide hereditary cancer genetic testing for individuals with a history of a hereditary cancer gene mutation in a blood relative or a personal or ancestral history suspicious for hereditary cancer, and to provide coverage of certain cancer screenings or preventive surgeries that would reduce the risk for individuals with a germline (inherited) mutation associated with a high risk of developing a preventable cancer.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Cosponsored by three Republican representatives and ten Democrats. Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: The three Republicans you should send thank-you notes to: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Zachary Nunn (R-IA). Where is John Joyce?

H.R.4773 – ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2025. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a SNF-at-home program under the Medicare program.
Introduced July 25, 2025 by Adrian Smith (R-NE). Cosponsored by Suzan DelBene (D-WA). Referred to Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: ACO is an Accountable Care Organization. SNF means “skilled nursing facility,” i.e., at home instead of in hospital.

H.R.4792 - Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2025. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise payment for air ambulance services under the Medicare program.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Ron Estes (R-KS). Cosponsored bysix Democrats and four Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: This bill does not so much increase or amend amounts covered or paid by Medicare for LifeFlight services. Rather, it orders a comprehensive study from the GAO and the Secretary of HHS regarding usage, expense, benefits, and more related to air ambulance service.

H.R.4793 - SOS Act (Save Our Seniors Act). To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to provide to Congress information on payments from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Randy Feenstra (R-IA). Cosponsored by eighteen Republicans and no Democrats. Referred to the House Committee on the Budget the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Another Orwellian name for a bill that does not “save seniors.” This is the full extent of the proposed legislation:
Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following: “Such report shall include a comparison, expressed in graph format and included with other information in the report on the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, between: (A) the amount assumed under section 257(b)(1) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985; and (B) outlays from payments from such Trust Funds based on the assumption that payments would be consistent with the amounts payable from dedicated funding sources as under current law.”

H.R.4814 - Supplemental Security Income Equality Act. To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Delegate James Moylan (R-Guam). Cosponsored by Del. Stacey Plasket (D-Virgin Islands), Del. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Resident Commissioner Pablo Jose Hernández (D-PR), Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Mariana Islands), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: This does not grant them special privileges. It merely treats them the same as other US citizens.

H.R.4849 - Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025. To repeal health-related portions of An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Adam Gray (D-CA). Cosponsored by 136 Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: This is an amendment to the table in the 1986 tax code regarding premium deductions.

H.R.4960 - BENES 2.0 Act (Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification 2.0 Act). To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a system to notify individuals approaching Medicare eligibility.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Raul Ruiz (D-CA). Cosponsored by Dwight Evans (D-PA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL). Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Do you have any idea how helpful this would be? It should be an automated notification, so cost is only initial programming.

H.R.4967 - Keep Seniors Fed Act. To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude from income certain funds received under the Social Security Act.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Jill Tokuda (D-HI). Cosponsored by thirty-five Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: This does not appear to revise extant legislation by large amounts. It merely edits “and” clauses, thus slightly expanding the pool of senior citizens who may receive SNAP benefits. This is NOT a huge expansion, so no reason for Republicans to hate it.

H.R.4968 - Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act. To amend title II of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make improvements in the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Jill Tokuda (D-HI). Cosponsored by ten Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Could someone please read this very long bill and tell me why it’s objectionable to House Republicans? It addresses things like cost of living increases and allowable income from a practical viewpoint. What do House Republicans find impractical? Serious question.

H.R.4972 - Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act. To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to address or assist in resolving the shortage of appropriate foster homes for children, to develop resources to keep sibling groups together, and to provide for a system of checks and balances to ensure a child’s ongoing safety and well-being, by providing for the placement of a foster child in cottage family homes and making a child so placed eligible for foster care maintenance payments.
Introduced August 15, 2025 by Gregory Steube (R-FL). Cosponsored by eighteen Republicans and four Democrats (Debbie Wasserman Schultz-FL, Darren Soto-FL, Jared Moskowitz-FL, and Eugen Vindman-VA). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Again, don’t get too excited about a House Republican bill that appears to care about foster children. This is the usual House Republican approach, tax credits or deductions instead of real change. In this case, “cottage homes” or “cottage family homes” are now eligible for maintenance payments.
Similar question as with H.R.4930 above. Why is this Ways & Means?

H.Res.651 - Supporting the commemoration of August 14, 2025, as the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Social Security.
Introduced August 15, 2025 by Robert Bresnahan (R-PA). Cosponsored by Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Zachary Nunn (R-IA), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), Thomas Kean (R-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gabe Evans (R-CO), and Nick LaLota (R-NY). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: I do not usually list all names when there are more than three or five cosponsors. But I want these names public, so we can hold them accountable. Where are they when House Democrats actually try to DO something about the national debt or the debt ceiling? They neither cosponsor those bills, nor do they come up with their own as counterpoint.
It. Is. 100%. Performative.

H.Res.657 - Affirming the President’s promise not to raise the Social Security and Medicare retirement age.
Introduced August 15, 2025 by Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Cosponsored by eleven Democrats and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce the same day. Still in committee.
Comment: Should have been a voice vote, not referred to committee. I want to know who does not affirm so. Starting with Mike Johnson.
Also, where were Robert Bresnahan (R-PA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Zachary Nunn (R-IA), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), Thomas Kean (R-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gabe Evans (R-CO), and Nick LaLota (R-NY)? (See H.Res. 651 above.)

H.R.4993 - Joe Fiandra Access to Home Infusion Act of 2025. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage of external infusion pumps and non-self-administrable home infusion drugs under the Medicare program.
Introduced August 19, 2025 by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Cosponsored by Neal Dunn (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Deborah Ross (D-NC). Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means the same day. Still in committee.
Serious comment: Can we please get this done? Now? It’s been on the House agenda since 2023. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) is trying again. Read the information on Brian Fitzpatrick’s Web site – who Joe Fiandra was, why he matters, why his death was inexcusable.

EC1729 – August 15, 2025. From the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department’s Major final rule - Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Rates; Changes to the FY 2025 IPPS Rates Due to Court Decision; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Electronic Prescribing, Real-Time Prescription Benefit and Electronic Prior Authorization.

EC1730 - August 15, 2025. From the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department’s Major final rule - Medicare Program: FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements.

EC1731 - August 15, 2025. From the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department’s Major final rule - Medicare Program; FY 2026 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System - Rate Update.

EC1732 - August 15, 2025. From the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department’s Major final rule - Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility [IRF] Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program.

EC1733 - August 15, 2025. From the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department’s Major final rule - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026.

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