American Patients First Act of 2026

This bill would change how Medicare pays for skin substitute products, which are materials applied to wounds and meant to stay in the wound bed. From 2027 through 2030, Medicare would pay a set rate of $457 per square centimeter, and products would only count if their human tissue was donated in the United States and they were made and distributed in the United States, with a possible 180-day waiver during shortages. The bill would require claim reviews and prior approval for certain providers, publish a list of the top 3 percent of providers by payment, and refer providers with high denial rates for possible exclusion. It would also limit payment for wasted product and repeated applications, require providers to hold certain wound care certifications, and require a report to Congress by 2030.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Pete Sessions Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors