A Republican bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 known as the Access to Medical Supplies Act. It excludes urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare competitive acquisition programs for a 5-year period starting on January 1, 2028, and ending before January 1, 2033. The legislation requires the creation of a technical expert panel to analyze the impact of including these supplies in competitive acquisition programs. It also establishes a 12-month demonstration project in no more than 3 states to test the inclusion of these supplies. Additionally, the bill prohibits contract suppliers from influencing or incentivizing individuals to switch brands. Finally, it gives individuals the right to purchase the same or clinically comparable supplies from another supplier if they cannot access them otherwise.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill safeguards individuals dependent on specialized medical supplies from losing access to prescribed brands through competitive bidding restrictions.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill protects patient access to necessary urological and ostomy supplies under Medicare by excluding them from competitive acquisition for 5 years and ensuring alternative purchasing rights.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The legislation directly benefits Medicare beneficiaries who rely on urological and ostomy supplies by protecting their product access and choices.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 excludes urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare competitive acquisition programs for 5 years, which could benefit patients by temporarily protecting their current supply chains and product choices.
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Section 3 requires the establishment of a technical expert panel with a minimum of 15 members, including patients, caregivers, and clinical experts, to review stakeholder input and clinical literature to ensure patient needs are met.
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Section 3 also ensures transparency by requiring the Secretary to make all meeting minutes and documentation of the technical expert panel available to the public on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.
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Section 4 establishes a demonstration project that requires surveys of individuals to determine if they can continue accessing the same medical supplies, and if not, requires consultation with the technical expert panel to fix access issues.
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Section 5 protects individuals by prohibiting contract suppliers from pressuring, persuading, advising, or unrequested sharing of information to influence patients to switch the brand of urological or ostomy supplies selected by their physician.
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Section 5 also grants individuals the right to receive their urological or ostomy supplies from another supplier or a non-contract supplier if they cannot access the same or clinically comparable supplies through their current program.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not explicitly identify any potential negative impacts, consequences, or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill safeguards individuals dependent on specialized medical supplies from losing access to prescribed brands through competitive bidding restrictions. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The legislation directly benefits Medicare beneficiaries who rely on urological and ostomy supplies by protecting their product access and choices.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill protects patient access to necessary urological and ostomy supplies under Medicare by excluding them from competitive acquisition for 5 years and ensuring alternative purchasing rights. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill provides additional oversight, expert panels, and demonstration projects related to Medicare competitive acquisition programs for medical supplies.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that minutes of all technical expert panel meetings and related documentation be made publicly available on the CMS website.
- 11/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Daniel MeuserRepublican · Pennsylvania
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Christopher SmithRepublican · New Jersey
Bradley SchneiderDemocrat · Illinois