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
This bill is called the Long-Term Rural Health Investment Act of 2026. It changes rules related to State directed payments under the Medicaid program. The bill adjusts payment limitations and sets up new reporting requirements for States. It also repeals certain provisions related to provider taxes from a previous law.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill establishes detailed new reporting requirements for States regarding Medicaid State directed payments beginning in January 2027.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -4
Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes?
The bill reduces certain grandfathered Medicaid State directed payments by 10 percent annually starting in 2030.
- Scored -3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Lowering certain Medicaid directed payment rates could affect the breadth of services available to low-income beneficiaries.
- Scored -3
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Gradual reductions in certain Medicaid directed payments over time could lead to fewer resources for certain health services.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Reporting data for transparency: Under Section 2(b), States are required to submit detailed data on State directed payments to the Secretary starting January 1, 2027. This includes information on amounts expended, provider identifiers, amounts paid to individual providers, and diagnosis codes, which helps keep track of how Medicaid money is being spent.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Reduction in certain payment amounts: Under Section 2(a), certain grandfathered payments will be reduced by 10 percent each year beginning on or after January 1, 2030, until the total payment rate reaches 200 percent of the specified Medicare payment rate or average commercial rate. This could mean less money going toward certain services over time.
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? — Lowering certain Medicaid directed payment rates could affect the breadth of services available to low-income beneficiaries. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Despite its title, the reduction of certain payment rates over time may pose financial challenges for rural healthcare providers relying on Medicaid. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Reductions in certain Medicaid payment rates over time could indirectly impact healthcare availability for low-income seniors reliant on the program.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill reduces certain grandfathered Medicaid State directed payments by 10 percent annually starting in 2030. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Gradual reductions in certain Medicaid directed payments over time could lead to fewer resources for certain health services.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes detailed new reporting requirements for States regarding Medicaid State directed payments beginning in January 2027.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House