A Democratic bill with 1 Republican 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
This bill, known as the "Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists of Health Providers Act," aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding Medicare Advantage plans. It establishes strict requirements for Medicare Advantage organizations to maintain accurate provider directories on publicly available websites. These organizations must verify directory information at least every 90 days, though hospitals may follow a different schedule determined by the Secretary. The bill also implements cost-sharing protections for enrollees who rely on inaccurate directory information. Additionally, it mandates annual accuracy analyses and requires the Secretary to publish accuracy scores.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides significant financial and informational protections for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.
- Scored +7
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill improves the reliability of Medicare Advantage network information and provides cost-sharing protections for retirees relying on incorrect directories.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves healthcare access by requiring Medicare Advantage plans to maintain accurate provider directories, including information on disability accommodations and new patient acceptance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Information Access: MA organizations must maintain a publicly available website with specific information such as provider name, specialty, contact info, address, whether they accept new patients, and disability accommodations (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
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Increased Directory Accuracy: Organizations are required to verify provider information at least every 90 days or, for hospitals, at a frequency determined by the Secretary but no less than every 12 months (Section 2(a)(2)(A)(ii)).
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Prompt Removal of Inactive Providers: Organizations must remove a provider from the directory within 5 business days if they are no longer participating in the plan's network (Section 2(a)(2)(A)(iv)).
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Financial Protections for Enrollees: If an enrollee relies on an incorrect directory and sees a provider not in the network, the MA organization must ensure the enrollee only pays the lesser of the in-network cost-sharing amount or the regular cost-sharing amount (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(ii)).
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Transparency Through Scoring: The Secretary will post provider directory accuracy scores online, and these scores must be listed prominently on the plan's provider directory (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(D) and Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Clear Communication of Rights: MA organizations are required to notify enrollees of their cost-sharing protections via annual notifications, the provider directory, and the first explanation of benefits (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Burden: The bill notes that the methodology for determining accuracy scores should take into account the administrative burden placed on both plans and providers (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(B)(ii)).
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Potential for Variable Verification Schedules: While most must verify every 90 days, hospitals or other facilities may follow a different schedule determined by the Secretary, which could be up to every 12 months (Section 2(a)(2)(A)(ii)).
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 reliability of Medicare Advantage network information and provides cost-sharing protections for retirees relying on incorrect directories. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides significant financial and informational protections for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill mandates that directories include information on disability accommodations to help patients plan their care. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects enrollees from unexpected costs due to inaccurate provider information, which disproportionately affects those on fixed incomes.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves healthcare access by requiring Medicare Advantage plans to maintain accurate provider directories, including information on disability accommodations and new patient acceptance. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill requires accuracy analysis to include a random sample of provider specialties, specifically mentioning mental health as a priority for accuracy tracking.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill requires provider directories to include specific information regarding accommodations for people with disabilities.
- 1/29/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon