A Republican bill with 8 Democratic cosponsors · See all 18 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
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Kidney Care Access Protection Act aims to improve access to innovative treatments for end-stage renal disease under Medicare. It establishes permanent add-on payments for new drugs, biological products, and devices used in renal dialysis services. The bill also ensures Medicare Advantage supports these innovative therapies through direct payment adjustments. Additionally, it addresses staffing issues by creating a forecast error adjustment for kidney care payments. Finally, the legislation expands the Medicare annual wellness benefit to include kidney disease screening and increases access to kidney disease education.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +8
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill significantly improves access to innovative kidney treatments, breakthrough devices, and preventative screenings for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill directly enhances Medicare benefits, preventative kidney screenings, and access to advanced treatments primarily utilized by older adults.
- Scored +7
Would retired people be better off under this?
Retirees on Medicare gain enhanced coverage options, preventative screenings, and better access to modern dialysis treatments.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved access to new treatments: The bill extends the transitional drug add-on payment period for new renal dialysis drugs and biological products for at least 3 years (Section 101(a)).
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Support for innovative medical devices: It extends the transitional add-on payment for new and innovative equipment and supplies for at least 3 years, including coverage for breakthrough devices (Section 101(d)).
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Enhanced Medicare Advantage support: The bill directs the Secretary to make direct payment adjustments to providers for innovative products, ensuring these therapies are supported within Medicare Advantage (Section 102(a)).
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More stable kidney care payments: The Secretary will compute a forecast error adjustment to account for differences between forecasted and actual price changes for goods and services in renal dialysis (Section 201).
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Expanded wellness benefits: The Medicare annual wellness benefit will be expanded to include chronic kidney disease screening (Section 301(a)).
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Increased educational access: The bill expands the kidney disease education benefit to include coverage through certain specialists and renal dialysis facilities (Section 302(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Budgetary implementation: The implementation of the permanent add-on adjustment for new drugs and biologicals is specified as not being implemented in a budget neutral manner (Section 101(b)(iii)).
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 retired people be better off under this? — Retirees on Medicare gain enhanced coverage options, preventative screenings, and better access to modern dialysis treatments. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill directly enhances Medicare benefits, preventative kidney screenings, and access to advanced treatments primarily utilized by older adults. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease receive substantial improvements in treatment coverage, equipment access, and educational services. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Chronic kidney disease disproportionately affects certain minority communities, making expanded screenings and treatment access particularly beneficial. Would business owners be better off under this? — Dialysis facility operators and specialized healthcare providers benefit from stable, updated payment formulas and inclusion of breakthrough technologies. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Expanded access to kidney disease education and screenings provides positive health impacts for affected minority groups. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The expansion of preventative Medicare benefits assists lower-income seniors in catching kidney disease early without added direct costs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class Medicare beneficiaries benefit from improved access to innovative therapies and preventative screenings. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Expanded access to renal education via nurse practitioners and physician assistants helps improve care delivery in underserved rural areas.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill significantly improves access to innovative kidney treatments, breakthrough devices, and preventative screenings for Medicare beneficiaries. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill increases Medicare support and expands coverage parameters for end-stage renal disease treatments and preventative screenings. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill extends and creates permanent transitional and post-transitional add-on payments for new renal dialysis drugs and biological products.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill supports specialized medical facilities and providers by refining payment adjustments for kidney care and dialysis services.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation adjusts federal Medicare regulations and payment structures for renal care.
- 10/9/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/20/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/20/2025
- 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Neal DunnRepublican · Florida
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Mike FloodRepublican · Nebraska
Mike KellyRepublican · Pennsylvania
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Gregory MurphyRepublican · North Carolina
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California
Michael RulliRepublican · Ohio
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina