CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Joe Courtney (D-CT)

Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2025

H.R. 3954 · House bill Health

A Democratic bill with 8 Republican cosponsors · See all 49 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill is called the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2025. It amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The main goal is to count a time of receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital toward the 3-day inpatient hospital stay requirement. This requirement is for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. The change applies to services beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Yes· 3 of 21

  • Scored +9

    Would people over 65 be better off under this?

    Primarily benefits seniors by expanding their access to Medicare-covered skilled nursing care.

  • Scored +9

    Would retired people be better off under this?

    Directly benefits retirees by easing the requirements for Medicare coverage in nursing facilities.

  • Scored +8

    Does this make health care easier to get in general?

    Increases access to skilled nursing facility services by removing a restrictive 3-day inpatient stay barrier.

The opposite

  • Scored -1

    Does this reduce what the federal government owes?

    Expanded Medicare coverage for skilled nursing facilities may slightly increase federal healthcare spending.

  • Scored -1

    Does this reduce what the federal government spends?

    Increasing eligibility for Medicare-covered services generally leads to higher government expenditures.

  • Scored -1

    Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?

    Expansion of benefit eligibility without a designated funding source may negatively impact fiscal balance.