Proposed Law to Make Three Primary Care Visits Free Under Medicare and Medicaid
December 17, 2024
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Where This Stands
Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
If passed, this legislation would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for the first three annual primary care or mental health visits for millions of Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, potentially increasing access to preventative and behavioral health services.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Medicare enrollees
They would no longer pay out-of-pocket costs for their first three primary care or behavioral health visits each year.
Medicaid enrollees
They would be exempt from cost-sharing for their first three primary care or behavioral health visits each year.
Medicare Advantage plans
These plans would be required to cover the first three primary care visits for enrollees without cost-sharing.
Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.
Floor Vote.
Background
- Ms. Salinas and Mrs. Napolitano are members of the U.S. House of Representatives. context
- The Social Security Act is the foundational federal law that established the Medicare and Medicaid programs. context
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Why It Matters
If passed, this legislation would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for the first three annual primary care or mental health visits for millions of Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, potentially increasing access to preventative and behavioral health services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would this apply to all my doctor visits?
When would this start?
Does this cover Medicare Advantage plans?
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Integration of Behavioral Health into Primary Care
The bill explicitly includes 'outpatient behavioral health services' in the definition of primary care, signaling a policy effort to treat mental health on par with physical health in primary care settings.
Connected Entities
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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