Bill · S. 575· Senate(119-S-575)
I CAN Act
- Introduced
- 2/13/2025
- Last activity
- 2/13/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act" or "I CAN Act" seeks to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act. This legislation aims to increase access to services provided by advanced practice registered nurses under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The bill focuses on removing practice barriers for nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse-midwives. It includes provisions to expand coverage for various medical services, such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, home infusion therapy, and maternity care. Additionally, the act addresses reimbursement, documentation requirements, and supervision rules.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
The bill significantly expands access to various services like cardiac rehab, hospice, and maternity care by allowing advanced practice nurses to provide them.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+6
The bill improves Medicare coverage for essential services like rehabilitation, diabetes care, and hospice through advanced practice providers.
Would women be better off under this?+6
The bill improves access to maternity care and home health services through certified nurse-midwives.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Rehabilitation: Patients can have exercise prescribed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or clinical nurse specialists for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs (Section 101).
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Improved Diabetes Care Documentation: Nurse practitioners and physician assistants may satisfy Medicare documentation requirements for coverage of certain shoes for individuals with diabetes (Section 102).
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Increased Medical Nutrition Services: The availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program can be expanded to include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, or physician assistants (Section 104).
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Preservation of Home Infusion Therapy: This provision allows "applicable providers" to establish home infusion therapy plans (Section 105).
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Enhanced Hospice Care Access: Nurse practitioners can be included in the definition of those providing hospice care services (Section 106).
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Streamlined Nursing Facility Care: Medicare and Medicaid inpatient hospital patients may be under the care of a nurse practitioner in skilled nursing and nursing facilities (Section 107).
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Improved Medicaid Clinic Services: The bill expands access to Medicaid clinic services by allowing nurse practitioners to provide these services (Section 108).
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Expanded Anesthesia Services: Certified registered nurse anesthetists can be reimbursed by Medicare for evaluation and management services (Section 201).
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Reduced Supervision Burdens for Anesthetists: The act removes unnecessary and costly supervision requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists (Section 204).
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Medicaid Anesthesia Benefits: CRNA services are included as a Medicaid-required benefit (Section 205).
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Improved Maternity Care Training: The bill improves access to training in maternity care for certified nurse-midwives (Section 301).
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Greater Access to Home Health and Medical Equipment: Medicare patients can access home health services and DMEPOS provided by certified nurse-midwives (Sections 302 and 303).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Note: The provided text does not explicitly list any negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
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+6Good For Seniors+6Good For Women+6Good For Low Income Households+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicaid Funding+2Increases Medicare Funding+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+1
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/31/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island