A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Patient Navigation Assistance Act proposes to allow Medicaid to pay for patient navigator services. It requires states to reimburse eligible entities for these services when provided to individuals eligible for medical assistance under the state plan. To qualify, patient navigators must meet specific education, licensure, or certification requirements. These services include referrals and activities to help patients access medical, social, logistical, and financial programs.
Yes· 3 of 25
- Scored +9
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Directly benefits those eligible for Medicaid by providing funded navigation services.
- Scored +8
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Directly aims to improve access to quality health care through professional patient navigation.
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes?
Expands the scope of Medicaid to cover and reimburse patient navigator services.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Adding a new reimbursable service under Medicaid likely increases federal government spending.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill mandates Medicaid reimbursement for patient navigator services, increasing public expenditure.
- Scored -1
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Increases mandatory spending through the Medicaid program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Support Services: Individuals eligible for medical assistance can receive help with referrals and activities to link them with medical, social, logistical, and financial programs to address their needs (Section 2(a)(4)(3)).
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Informed Decision-Making: Patient navigators provide individualized education and resources, which helps people make informed decisions and get timely access to quality health and psychosocial care (Section 2(a)(4)(2)(A)(i)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Strict Qualification Requirements: Only individuals with specific degrees (such as nursing, social work, or health-related fields) or specific certifications can serve as patient navigators, which may limit the number of available navigators (Section 2(a)(4)(2)(A)(ii)).
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Limited Training Window: Certain approved training programs will no longer satisfy the requirements for patient navigators after three years from the date the provisions apply, potentially creating a barrier for those using that specific training path (Section 2(a)(4)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Directly benefits those eligible for Medicaid by providing funded navigation services. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — People with disabilities often require significant navigation support for complex care systems. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees on Medicaid benefit from help managing complex health and financial resources. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors often have complex medical needs that benefit significantly from patient navigation. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Low-income minority populations are disproportionately impacted by barriers to healthcare access. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Low-income minority populations are disproportionately impacted by barriers to healthcare access. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Low-income minority populations are disproportionately impacted by barriers to healthcare access. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Low-income minority populations are disproportionately impacted by barriers to healthcare access. Would children be better off under this? — Improved navigation can help families access pediatric and social services. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Patient navigators can help marginalized groups find inclusive care. Would men be better off under this? — Improves access to health services for eligible men. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides support for adults eligible for medical assistance to find care. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Can bridge the gap in rural areas where accessing specialized care is more difficult. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increases support in urban areas where many community-based organizations operate. Would women be better off under this? — Women often act as primary caregivers and benefit from better navigation of health and social services. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Helps young adults navigate medical and financial assistance programs. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Benefits low-income white individuals eligible for medical assistance.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Directly aims to improve access to quality health care through professional patient navigation. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — Expands the scope of Medicaid to cover and reimburse patient navigator services. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Navigators help patients access psychosocial care and medical services.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Helping low-income individuals access social and financial programs can mitigate poverty. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Improved healthcare navigation often benefits marginalized populations who face higher barriers to care. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Navigators assist in linking patients with social and logistical programs that may include housing.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Creating a reimbursement mechanism for patient navigators may increase demand and hiring for these professional roles. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill mandates Medicaid reimbursement for patient navigator services, increasing public expenditure. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Adding a new reimbursable service under Medicaid likely increases federal government spending. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Increases mandatory spending through the Medicaid program.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Amends the Social Security Act to set federal standards for state Medicaid reimbursements. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Imposes specific federal requirements on how states must reimburse eligible entities.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House