Bills · S 2561
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2561Health
Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act of 2025
INTRO JUL 31· LAST ACTION JUL 31
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tries to address the rising costs of a crucial medical treatment—skin substitutes—within the Medicare program. Millions of older Americans and individuals with disabilities rely on Medicare for healthcare, and a significant number of them suffer from chronic wounds that require these advanced therapies. If enacted, this bill could lead to substantial cost savings for Medicare by changing how these products are paid for, moving away from a system that currently incentivizes more expensive options.
Without this bill, Medicare spending on skin substitutes is expected to continue rising, putting a greater strain on the program's finances. By establishing a more standardized payment approach and focusing on the overall effectiveness and safety of products rather than individual pricing, the bill aims to ensure that patients continue to have access to these vital treatments while also making the system more efficient and fiscally responsible. It also affects how manufacturers compete and how doctors make choices for their patients.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Medicare will pay a single, volume-weighted average price for all skin substitute products, starting January 1, 2026.
This aims to reduce overall Medicare spending on these products by removing incentives to use more expensive options.
PROVISION 02
A new, single billing and payment code will be established for all skin substitute products by January 1, 2026.
This simplifies the billing process for providers and helps standardize payment for these diverse products.
PROVISION 03
Medicare's criteria for determining if a skin substitute is "reasonable and necessary" will focus on safety concerns, not solely on an analysis of clinical evidence.
This ensures continued access to products by preventing coverage denials based purely on differing clinical study interpretations, prioritizing safety instead.
PROVISION 04
Manufacturers of skin substitute products will no longer be required to report their average sales prices to the government.
This reduces reporting burdens for manufacturers while fitting with the new volume-weighted average payment model.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· Louisiana
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
121
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 2 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUL 31
Introduced in Senate
JUL 31
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2561
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJul 31, 2025
Last actionJul 31, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUL 31, 2025
Senate BillS 2561Health
Skin Substitute Access and Payment Reform Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JUL 31, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 31, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
