Cory Booker (D-NJ)
John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no 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 is known as the John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2026. It amends title XI of the Social Security Act to focus healthcare innovation models on advancing health equity and improving care access. The bill requires the Secretary to consult with specific health offices and experts on health disparities and social determinants of health. It mandates the creation of a social determinants of health payment model to test innovations starting no later than December 31, 2027. Additionally, it requires reports to Congress to include information on interventions addressing health disparities and estimated Federal savings.
Yes· 3 of 19
- Scored +8
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The legislation mandates CMMI innovation models to improve access to care for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in underserved areas.
- Scored +8
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill explicitly requires healthcare innovation models to reduce minority and rural health disparities and advance health equity.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill directly focuses on improving healthcare access and addressing social determinants of health for Medicaid beneficiaries and low-income individuals.
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(a)(2)(A) requires the Secretary to consult with the Office of Minority Health, the Office of Rural Health Policy, and the Office on Women's Health before selecting innovation models. This is positive because it ensures that chosen models specifically address health disparities and social determinants of health for the populations being cared for.
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Section 2(a)(2)(A) adds a requirement for a social defendants of health payment model, with testing to begin not later than December 31, 2027. This provision is beneficial as it tests payment and service delivery innovations for behavioral health, targets conditions in underserved areas, and focuses on Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum women up to one year after delivery.
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Section 2(a)(4) requires reports submitted after the enactment of the act to include information on estimated Federal savings achieved through reducing disparities and improving health equity. This is a positive outcome for accountability, showing how addressing these issues impacts the federal budget.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that outline negative 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 Black Americans be better off under this? — The legislation requires consultation with the Office of Minority Health and explicitly targets the reduction of minority health disparities. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The legislation requires consultation with the Office of Minority Health and explicitly targets the reduction of minority health disparities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The legislation requires consultation with the Office of Minority Health and explicitly targets the reduction of minority health disparities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill directly focuses on improving healthcare access and addressing social determinants of health for Medicaid beneficiaries and low-income individuals. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation requires consultation with the Office of Minority Health and explicitly targets the reduction of minority health disparities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes specific provisions for the Office of Rural Health Policy and targets conditions to increase medical capacity in rural and underserved areas. Would women be better off under this? — The bill mandates consultation with the Office on Women's Health and creates payment innovations targeted on Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum women. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The legislation aims to improve care access and address health disparities for Medicare beneficiaries, a majority of whom are seniors. Would children be better off under this? — The bill supports postpartum and maternal care innovations which indirectly benefit newborns and children.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation mandates CMMI innovation models to improve access to care for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in underserved areas. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill establishes payment and service delivery innovations for behavioral health services to address conditions in underserved areas. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The legislation incorporates Medicaid-focused payment models, including support for pregnant and postpartum women up to one year after delivery. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill amends the Social Security Act to focus Medicare innovation models on advancing health equity and improving care access.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill explicitly requires healthcare innovation models to reduce minority and rural health disparities and advance health equity. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The legislation mandates consultation with the Office on Women's Health and targets innovations for Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum women. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By targeting social determinants of health and low-income beneficiaries, the bill supports poverty reduction efforts in healthcare access.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically directs innovation models and the Office of Rural Health Policy to address rural health disparities and increase healthcare capacity in underserved areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates comprehensive reports to Congress on interventions addressing social determinants of health, health disparities, and estimated Federal savings.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill requires reports to include information on estimated Federal savings achieved through reducing healthcare disparities and improving health equity.
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate