The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a Sept. 15 hearing entitled "Examining Legislative Proposals to Reform Medicare Provider Payment and Bolster Health Care Cybersecurity," which focused on bipartisan efforts to stabilize Medicare physician payment and address growing cybersecurity threats facing health care providers.
During the hearing, members on both sides of the aisle expressed support for the Patients First Act of 2026 (H.R. 9693), introduced by Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-Pa.), Kim Schrier, MD (D-Wash.), and Greg Murphy, MD (R-N.C.), which would establish an annual inflationary update to Medicare physician payments, modify the budget neutrality threshold, extend incentives for participation in alternative payment models, reform the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and create a five-year hybrid payment pilot for independent primary care practices. The AAMC-supported and House Ways and Means Committee-passed the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026 (H.R. 8163), which would update the budget neutrality threshold and improve payment predictability, was also discussed [refer to Washington Highlights, May 22].
The hearing also examined other legislation, including the Healthcare Cybersecurity and Resilience Act of 2026 (PDF) and the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (H.R. 9908), as well as the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (H.R. 1254), which would help rural hospitals prepare for obstetric emergencies in communities that lack access to obstetric clinicians or birthing facilities. Democratic members raised broader concerns about the impact of recent Medicaid cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits on hospital closures and access to care.
- Washington Highlights