Save MEDICARE Act of 2026

Sponsor: Lloyd Doggett (Democratic-TX)June 30, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Revises Medicare Advantage payments and ensures the VA is paid for veterans' care.

This bill would change how the government pays Medicare Advantage plans, aiming for more accurate payments and better oversight. It would also require Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to pay the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for healthcare services provided to veterans. These changes would affect Medicare Advantage plans, veterans, and potentially all taxpayers.

What Would Change

Today, Medicare Advantage plans receive payments based on various factors, including diagnoses from chart reviews and health risk assessments, and some plans receive quality bonuses. The VA also faces challenges in recovering costs from private insurance plans when providing care to veterans. After this bill, Medicare Advantage payment calculations would change, the Quality Bonus Program would end, and the VA would have a clear path to recover costs from Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans for veterans' care, as well as stronger tools to recover costs from other third parties for non-service-connected care.

Key Provisions

Excludes certain diagnoses from Medicare Advantage payment calculations, especially those from chart reviews and health risk assessments, starting in 2028.
Ends the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Program after 2028.
Adjusts Medicare Advantage benchmark payments starting in 2028 to account for when healthier people choose these plans.
Speeds up Medicare Advantage audit processes and allows the government to apply audit findings from a small group to a larger group of plans.
Requires Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for healthcare services provided to veterans, starting in 2028. It also strengthens the VA's ability to recover costs from any third party (like other health plans or those responsible for an injury) for non-service-connected disabilities, including new rules for payment deadlines, interest, and penalties.

View on Congress.gov

HR 9544 · 119th Congress · June 30, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 6/10

Save MEDICARE Act of 2026

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity