House Energy and Commerce hearing reviews 10 Medicare access bills ahead of markup

Unidentified Speaker opened the hearing, saying, “Today's hearing will discuss 10 bills aimed at improving patient access in Medicare.” The committee previewed measures addressing durable medical equipment (DME), home infusion, laboratory reimbursement, Medicare Advantage transparency, accountable-care data collection and a proposal to bar certain AI-based denials.

The most prominent items included HR 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, which would create a billing code to allow Medicare to cover part of the upfront cost of ultra-light wheelchairs; HR 2902, the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act, which would remove supplemental and liquid oxygen from competitive bidding and set a new reimbursement rate; and HR 6361, the Ban AI Denials in Medicare Act, which would prohibit the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) from implementing the WISER model.

Unidentified Speaker said the hearing aims to “modernize the model, ensure adequate provider reimbursement, and support patient access,” referring to the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (HR 2172). The committee also heard about HR 5269, which would change how CMS sets reimbursement rates for clinical laboratory services under the Medicare clinical lab fee schedule, and HR 5243 to increase transparency into Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits.

No formal motions or votes were recorded during the opening statement; the speaker concluded by saying the witnesses will testify and the committee will work “to advance these bills to a markup.”