John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2026
Adds health equity and access goals to Medicare and Medicaid care models and requires testing a model addressing social factors that affect health.
In the Senate Finance Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Medicare and Medicaid payment models test different ways to pay for and organize care. The bill would make health equity and access part of how those models are chosen and assessed. It would also require testing a model focused on social factors affecting health and add equity-related information to reports.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Build health equity into model choices
For models whose testing begins on or after January 1, 2027, the Secretary would have to consider health equity and access to care, and assess whether a model could reduce health disparities. The bill also adds health equity to criteria for evaluating whether a model should continue or expand.
- Test a social factors payment model
The selected models would have to include a model testing payment and care-delivery approaches in a region chosen by the Secretary, with testing beginning no later than December 31, 2027. The approaches cover behavioral health, increasing care capacity in underserved areas, and care for Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum women for up to one year after delivery.
- Require consultation on model selection
Before selecting a model, the Secretary would consult federal offices focused on minority health, rural health, and women's health. The bill also calls for expertise on the causes of health disparities and social factors that affect health.
- Add equity information to reports
Reports submitted after enactment would describe interventions addressing social factors, health disparities, or health equity in tested models. They would also include estimated federal savings from reducing disparities or addressing social factors, and information on how well interventions reduce related poor health outcomes and costs.
The bill's stated purpose is to improve access to care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through models tested by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. It would make reducing health disparities and improving health equity part of how those models are selected and assessed.
The bill also seeks information on whether interventions can reduce poor health outcomes and costs associated with social factors that affect health. It does not provide cost estimates in the text.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. BookerReferred to Finance
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026FINANCE NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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