A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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 amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to innovative treatments for end-stage renal disease under Medicare. The bill extends the transitional drug add-on payment adjustment period for new renal dialysis drugs and biological products. It also establishes a permanent post-TDAPA add-on adjustment for these drugs and clarifies the definition of renal dialysis services. Additionally, the bill extends the period for transitional add-on payments for new and innovative equipment and supplies. Finally, it directs the Secretary to make direct payment adjustments for Medicare Advantage enrollees and addresses staffing barriers through labor adjustments.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill enhances Medicare coverage for essential kidney care treatments and technologies used by seniors.
- Scored +6
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill improves the value and coverage of the Medicare program which many retirees rely on for life-sustaining care.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves access to innovative treatments and breakthrough medical devices for patients with end-stage renal disease.
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 drugs: The bill extends the transitional drug add-on payment adjustment for new renal dialysis drugs or biological products approved by the FDA on or after January 1, 2020, for not less than 3 years (Section 101(a)).
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Permanent coverage for innovative treatments: The Secretary will establish a permanent add-on adjustment for new renal dialysis drugs or biological products to ensure continued payment after the transitional period (Section 101(b)).
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Expanded coverage for breakthrough devices: Devices designated for expedited development and priority review will be eligible for transitional add-on payments for new and innovative equipment and supplies (Section 101(d)).
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Access to capital-related assets: The bill allows for the calculation of adjustments for capital-related assets that meet the requirements for new and innovative equipment (Section 101(d)).
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Support for Medicare Advantage enrollees: The Secretary will make direct payment adjustments to providers for new drugs, biological products, or equipment/services used by Medicare Advantage enrollees with end-stage renal disease (Section 102(a)).
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Addressing economic forecasting errors: The Secretary will compute a forecast error adjustment to account for differences between forecasted and actual price changes in goods and services related to renal dialysis (Section 201).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
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? — The bill improves the value and coverage of the Medicare program which many retirees rely on for life-sustaining care. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill enhances Medicare coverage for essential kidney care treatments and technologies used by seniors. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Expanding coverage for innovative treatments through Medicare can mitigate out-of-pocket costs for low-income patients.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves access to innovative treatments and breakthrough medical devices for patients with end-stage renal disease. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill extends and establishes permanent add-on payments for new drugs, biological products, and innovative equipment within the Medicare program.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill provides stability for healthcare providers through predictable payment adjustments for new drugs and equipment.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Improved access to medical innovations can reduce the long-term financial burden of managing chronic illness.
- 3/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana