United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 21 R · 20 D cosponsors

HR 9693 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify certain physician payments under the Medicare program.

Last action — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 15, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 41 sponsors

    1 primary, 40 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (21 R · 20 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill modifies physician payments under the Medicare program.

The legislation proposes changes to how physicians are paid through Medicare, impacting the reimbursement process. This aims to update payment structures for healthcare providers.

What this means for you
  • Healthcare: Changes in physician payments could affect the resources and services available to healthcare providers.

Summary

Patients First Act of 2026This bill modifies payments and incentive programs under the Medicare physician fee schedule.The bill establishes a temporary program to provide hybrid payments for certain primary care services. Under the program, payments for services relating to care management, behavioral health integration, office-based evaluation and management (including telehealth), and communications (e.g., phone calls) are made on a monthly basis to providers for each individual that is attributed to the provider's practice. The monthly amount is based on the national average amount for such services. Providers may opt into the model; in order to qualify, providers must be owned or controlled by health care practitioners and must have had the majority of their prior year's payments consist of payments for the covered services.The bill also renames the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and modifies the program to include performance measures relating to care efficiency (e.g., reducing avoidable hospitalizations). (MIPS is an incentive program under Medicare that allows health professionals to receive payment adjustments based on certain performance measures.) The bill generally reduces the program's performance-based payment adjustments, including positive adjustments for providers that are not owned or controlled by health care practitioners.Finally, the bill allows for larger annual adjustments to the Medicare physician fee schedule and bases these adjustments on inflation. It also requires certain corrections to compensate for expenditures under the fee schedule that exceed a certain amount in a given year, and it limits how much certain adjustment factors may vary each year.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 40 co-sponsors · 506 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (40)

Not signed on (506)

506 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 506 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 9693 do?
Patients First Act of 2026This bill modifies payments and incentive programs under the Medicare physician fee schedule.The bill establishes a temporary program to provide hybrid payments for certain primary care services. Under the program, payments for services relating to care management, behavioral health integration, office-based evaluation and management (including telehealth), and communications (e.g., phone calls) are made on a monthly basis to providers for each individual that is attributed to the provider's practice. The monthly amount is based on the national average amount for such services. Providers may opt into the model; in order to qualify, providers must be owned or controlled by health care practitioners and must have had the majority of their prior year's payments consist of payments for the covered services.The bill also renames the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and modifies the program to include performance measures relating to care efficiency (e.g., reducing avoidable hospitalizations). (MIPS is an incentive program under Medicare that allows health professionals to receive payment adjustments based on certain performance measures.) The bill generally reduces the program's performance-based payment adjustments, including positive adjustments for providers that are not owned or controlled by health care practitioners.Finally, the bill allows for larger annual adjustments to the Medicare physician fee schedule and bases these adjustments on inflation. It also requires certain corrections to compensate for expenditures under the fee schedule that exceed a certain amount in a given year, and it limits how much certain adjustment factors may vary each year.
Who sponsors HR 9693?
HR 9693 is sponsored by Joyce, John (Republican), Schrier, Kim (Democratic), Murphy, Gregory F. (Republican), Bera, Ami (Democratic), Dunn, Neal P. (Republican), Conaway, Herbert C. (Democratic), Harris, Andy (Republican), Morrison, Kelly (Democratic), Miller-Meeks, Mariannette (Republican), Dexter, Maxine (Democratic), Harshbarger, Diana (Republican), Veasey, Marc A. (Democratic), Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (Republican), Sewell, Terri A. (Democratic), Onder, Robert F. (Republican), DelBene, Suzan K. (Democratic), Babin, Brian (Republican), Panetta, Jimmy (Democratic), McCormick, Richard (Republican), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Biggs, Sheri (Republican), Fletcher, Lizzie (Democratic), Bilirakis, Gus M. (Republican), Trahan, Lori (Democratic), Miller, Carol D. (Republican), LaHood, Darin (Republican), Kelly, Robin L. (Democratic), Van Drew, Jefferson (Republican), Barragán, Nanette Diaz (Democratic), Van Duyne, Beth (Republican), Landsman, Greg (Democratic), Peters, Scott H. (Democratic), Houchin, Erin (Republican), Gallagher, James (Republican), Meuser, Daniel (Republican), Hinson, Ashley (Republican), Bynum, Janelle S. (Democratic), Thompson, Bennie G. (Democratic), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), Correa, J. Luis (Democratic), and Keating, William R. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 9693?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 15, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 9693?
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