Bills · S 2793
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2793Health
Ensuring Access to Essential Providers Act of 2025
INTRO SEP 11· LAST ACTION SEP 11
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
1
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 aims to close gaps in healthcare access for some of the most vulnerable populations in the United States. Many people in rural areas, low-income communities, or places with doctor shortages struggle to find convenient and affordable care, even with insurance. This bill tries to fix that by making sure Medicare Advantage plans actively include the types of local providers that often serve these communities.
If this bill becomes law, Medicare Advantage plans would be pushed to build more comprehensive and geographically accessible networks, ensuring that community-based providers are integral to their offerings. This could lead to better health outcomes and reduced travel burdens for enrollees. If it doesn't pass, access disparities for low-income and rural MA enrollees might continue, as MA plans would not be specifically required to contract with these essential local providers.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to meet an "essential community provider standard" for their plans.
This establishes a new, mandatory baseline for MA plans to ensure they include vital community healthcare resources in their networks.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that MA plans include a certain number and geographic distribution of essential community providers, and offer contracts to all such providers in their service area.
This directly targets access by ensuring MA networks are robust and cover areas traditionally underserved by mainstream healthcare.
PROVISION 03
Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reject MA plans that do not meet the essential community provider standard and provide an insufficient justification.
This provides an enforcement mechanism to ensure MA plans comply with the new network requirements.
PROVISION 04
Defines "essential community provider" to include Federally Qualified Health Centers, rural and critical access hospitals, mental health facilities, and other entities serving low-income or medically underserved individuals.
This clarifies which specific types of healthcare providers are deemed critical for MA plans to include in their networks.
PROVISION 05
Requires MA organizations to pay Federally Qualified Health Centers for items or services an amount consistent with existing law.
This ensures fair and consistent compensation for a crucial type of essential community provider, promoting their financial stability.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Louisiana
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
121
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSSEP 11
Introduced in Senate
SEP 11
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2793
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedSep 11, 2025
Last actionSep 11, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 11, 2025
Senate BillS 2793Health
Ensuring Access to Essential Providers Act of 2025
INTRODUCED SEP 11, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 11, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
