What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act This bill modifies certain adjustments to payment amounts under the Medicare physician fee schedule. Payment amounts under the Medicare physician fee schedule are based on a service's relative value, a conversion factor, and a geographic adjustment factor. Current law provides for separate conversion factors for physicians that are qualifying participants in advanced alternative payment models (also known as qualifying APM participants) and for other physicians beginning in 2026, with an annual update of 0.75% and 0.25%, respectively. The bill replaces the separate conversion factors for qualifying APM participants and other physicians with a single conversion factor and provides for an update that is equal to the annual percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index, beginning in 2026. (The Medicare Economic Index is a specialized index that is generally used to determine allowed charges for physician services based on annual price changes.)
Action Timeline
2025-11-19
Introduced in House
2025-11-19
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdicti
2025-11-19
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.6160 pass?
HR.6160 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.6160 do?
Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act This bill modifies certain adjustments to payment amounts under the Medicare physician fee schedule. Payment amounts under the Medicare physician fee schedule are based on a service's relative value, a conversion factor, and a geographic adjustment factor. Current law provides for separate conversion factors for physicians that are qualifying participants in advanced alternative payment models (also known as qualifying APM participants) and for other physicians beginning in 2026, with an annual update of 0.75% and 0.25%, respectively. The b…
Who sponsored HR.6160?
HR.6160 was sponsored by Raul Ruiz (D-California).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 6160 IH: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-11-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6160 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 19, 2025 Mr. Ruiz (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis , Mr. Panetta , Mr. Bera , and Ms. Schrier ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an update to a single conversion factor under the Medicare physician fee schedule that is based on the Medicare economic index. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act . 2. Transition to an update to a single conversion factor under the Medicare physician fee schedule based on the Medicare economic index (a) In general Section 1848(d)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)(20) ) is amended to read as follows: (20) Update for 2026 and subsequent years The update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 2026 and each subsequent year shall be equal to the Secretary’s estimate of the percentage increase in the MEI (as defined in section 1842(i)(3)) for the year. . (b) Conforming amendment To provide for a single conversion factor after 2025 Section 1848(d)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)(1)(A) ) is amended— (1) by striking and ending with 2025 ; and (2) by striking There shall be two separate conversion factors and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph.
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