Bill · S. 1248· Senate(119-S-1248)
EASE Act
- Introduced
- 4/2/2025
- Last activity
- 4/2/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Markwayne Mullin
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act" or the "EASE Act," aims to amend the Social Security Act. It directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a new model called the Specialty Health Care Services Access Model. This model involves the Secretary entering into agreements with specific provider networks to deliver specialty health care services. These services are to be provided to eligible individuals using digital modalities, such as telehealth and remote technologies. The goal is to improve access to specialty health services through coordination with primary care providers.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
The bill mandates that half of the provider networks be located in rural areas to improve access.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
The bill improves access to specialty services through digital modalities and coordination with primary care.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+6
The bill enhances access to specialty care for Medicare beneficiaries.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved access to specialty care: The model aims to improve access to specialty health services for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through the use of digital modalities like telehealth and remote technologies (Section 2(a)(2)(h)(1)).
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Support for rural and underserved communities: The bill requires provider networks to be comprised of entities such as Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, or rural emergency hospitals, with at least half located in rural areas (Section 2(a)(2)(h)(2)(A)). These networks must also have an established record of supporting health care delivery in rural and underserved communities (Section 2(a)(2)(h)(2)(C)).
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Coordination of care: The model specifies that specialty health care services will be provided in coordination with the individuals' primary care providers (Section 2(a)(2)(h)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
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 Rural Residents+7Good For Retirees+6Good For Seniors+6Good For Low Income Households+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5Increases Medicare Funding+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5
- 4/2/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina