Hospice CARE Act of 2026

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Introduced 2026-03-17Topic: health care · governance ethics · budget

Summary

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This bill would change how Medicare pays for and oversees hospice care. It would require a 5-year nationwide pause on enrolling new hospice programs in Medicare, with possible exceptions for areas lacking hospice access. It would require more frequent inspections of newer hospices, advance notice of ownership changes, and penalties for violations. It would cut off Medicare payments to hospices that do not report quality data starting in fiscal year 2028. It would also change hospice payment rates, allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to certify terminal illness, and add Medicare coverage for short-term respite care in the home.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Action history

Date	Chamber	Action	Status effect
2026-03-17	House	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.	refer
2026-03-17	House	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.	refer
2026-03-17		Introduced in House	introduce
2026-03-17		Introduced in House	introduce

Summary

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Action history