House Unanimously Passes New Bipartisan Health Care Bills

WASHINGTON—The House passed 14 new bipartisan health bills. The following bills were passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and passed the House unanimously. 

“These commonsense solutions will help reform and extend programs that support the health and wellbeing of the American people,” said Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Energy and Commerce Committee chair. “I commend the members who led these bipartisan initiatives for their hard work, as well as my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work to shepherd them through the committee process and across the House floor.”

Background on the Bills

• HR 8112: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to further require certain additional provider screening under the Medicaid program. The bill requires states to regularly check the Data Exchange System to determine, as part of a provider’s enrollment (or reenrollment or revalidation of enrollment) in the Medicaid program, that the provider is not prohibited from participating in the Medicare program. 
• HR 8089: The Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act of 2024. The bill requires states to check the Death Master File (DMF) upon enrollment (or reenrollment or revalidation or enrollment), and on at least a quarterly basis, to identify deceased providers. Existing federal laws, regulations and guidance dictate the steps states must take in the event the state identifies that the provider is deceased. 
• HR 6160: To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program. The bill reauthorizes for five years the lifespan respite care program administered by the Administration of Community Living at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support state respite care systems. 
• HR 7218: The “BOLD” Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill reauthorizes programs to support states, local public health departments and other entities in their efforts to educate and support early detection and diagnosis; reduce associated risks; support patients and caregivers; and promote public health knowledge and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, among other activities, at currently appropriated levels for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. 
• HR 7208: The Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill reauthorizes traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs at the HHS, which allocate resources for TBI prevention, improving access to TBI rehabilitation and support TBI patient advocacy systems. The bill reauthorizes the program for five fiscal years from 2025 through 2029.