Bill · H.R. 2610· House(119-HR-2610)
Protecting Options for Seniors Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 4/2/2025
- Last activity
- 4/2/2025 — 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.
- Sponsored by
- Claudia Tenney
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``Protecting Options for Seniors Act of 2025'' seeks to amend the Social Security Act regarding Medicare Advantage (MA) local area growth. It targets specific areas where hospital wage indices have increased by more than 20 percent compared to the previous year. The bill instructs the Secretary to increase the national per capita MA growth percentage for these specific applicable areas. This adjustment begins with rates calculated for 2026. The legislation also modifies how benchmarks and base payment amounts are calculated to account for these adjustments. Additionally, it introduces new requirements for transparency and data sharing regarding payments to area hospitals.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+4
The bill helps protect Medicare Advantage options for seniors in specific high-growth areas.
Would retired people be better off under this?+4
The bill aims to preserve Medicare Advantage options for seniors in specific high-cost areas.
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?+3
The bill increases Medicare Advantage growth percentages for specific local areas facing significant wage index increases.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Adjustments for Specific Local Areas: The Secretary is directed to increase the national per capita MA growth percentage for local areas where the weighted average hospital wage index increased by more than 20 percent (Section 2(a)(2)(D)(i) and (ii)). This provides a mechanism to address significant under projection of local area growth.
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Improved Payment Calculations: The bill amends the Social Security Act to ensure that the benchmark cap and base payment amounts take into account the adjustments made for applicable areas (Section 2(b) and Section 2(c)). This ensures that the specified adjustments are integrated into the broader payment structure.
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Increased Transparency: The bill adds a requirement for the publication of the total amount paid to each area hospital for the year, computed separately for part A and part B (Section 2(d)(1)). This provides more detailed data starting with the 2026 information publication.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Benchmark Neutrality Constraints: Any adjustment made for an MA payment area and a year must be done in a manner that ensures the enrollment-weighted average applicable amount for all MA payment areas remains the same as it would have been without the adjustment (Section 2(a)(2)(D)(vi)). This means the adjustment is intended to be budget-neutral across all areas.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+4Good For Seniors+4
- Healthcare
- Increases Medicare Funding+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- 4/8/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/7/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/2/2025
- 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.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Joseph MorelleDemocrat · New York
John MannionDemocrat · New York
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Elise StefanikRepublican · New York
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York