HR 6160

Introduced

Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act

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.

Introduced Nov 19, 2025

Latest action (Nov 19, 2025) 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.

Referred to

Ways and Means Committee Energy and Commerce Committee

Policy area

Health

Issues

Healthcare

Summary

Sets the annual update to the Medicare physician fee schedule's single conversion factor, starting in 2026, equal to the Secretary of Health and Human Services' estimate of the percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index for that year.
Removes the statutory language that provides for two separate conversion factors, which is what makes the single conversion factor the basis for payment after 2025.
Strikes the phrase "and ending with 2025" from the fee schedule provisions of the Social Security Act.
Takes effect as an amendment to section 1848 of the Social Security Act, which governs Medicare physician payment, and is referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Rep. Ruiz, Raul (D-CA) [#25]

12 cosponsors

Actions (2)

Nov 19, 2025 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. · house
Nov 19, 2025 Introduced in House

Full text

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act”.

SEC. 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. <all>

Text versions (1)

Introduced in House · Nov 19, 2025

Only one text version is on file, so there’s no earlier version to compare against yet.

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