WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 8163 · 119th Congress

Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026

IntroducedHealth
IntroducedMar 30, 2026
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, May 21, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0. It would change 1 section of existing law and would add 2 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 8163 would change 1 section of existing law, and would create 2 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Mar 30, 2026).

42 U.S.C. 1395w-4 Payment for physicians' services

  • (c) Determination of relative values for physicians' services added to · Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 2(3), Sec. 3(a), Sec. 3(b) · see the words

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 4 Timely updates to direct costs used to calculate practice expense RVUs
  • Sec. 5 Limitation on year-to-year conversion factor variance
What the words would change: every change, in place (8)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II)changedby H.R. 8163 Sec. 2(1)

    The bill says: by striking "Subject to" and inserting the following:

  2. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)changedby H.R. 8163 Sec. 2(2)

    The bill says: in item (aa), as inserted by paragraph (1), by striking "$20,000,000" and inserting "the amount specified in item (bb) for such year"; and

  3. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II)added (bb)by H.R. 8163 Sec. 2(3)

    (bb) Amount specified.— For purposes of item (aa), subject to item (cc), the amount specified in this item is—(AA) for years before 2027, $20,000,000;(BB) for 2027, $54,300,000; and(CC) for 2028 and each subsequent year, the amount specified in this item for the preceding year.(cc) Indexing limitation on annual adjustments.— For 2032 and every subsequent fifth year, the Secretary shall increase the amount specified in item (bb) for such year by the cumulative percentage increase in the MEI (as defined in section 1842(i)(3)) applicable to physicians’ services for each year occurring during the 5-year period ending on the last day of the preceding year.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new items:

  4. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)added (vii)by H.R. 8163 Sec. 3(a)

    (vii) Budget neutrality corrections relating to estimated utilization.—(I) In general.— In the case of a budget neutrality adjustment applied pursuant to clause (ii)(II) for a year (beginning with 2027) that is determined in part using estimated utilization (as defined in subclause (II)(bb)) with respect to a specified service (as defined in subclause (II)(cc)), the Secretary shall, as part of the final rule establishing the physician fee schedule under this section for the assumption correction period (as defined in subclause (II)(aa)) with respect to such year—(aa) determine the difference between expenditures for such service in such year using estimated utilization and actual utilization for such service (in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary); and(bb) in the case that the Secretary determines the difference described in item (aa) is greater than the threshold amount (as defined in subclause (II)(dd)) for such year, adjust the conversion factor under this section for such assumption correction period by such amount to reconcile such difference (which may be positive or negative), as determined by the Secretary.(II) Definitions.— For purposes of this clause:(aa) Assumption correction period.— The term assumption correction period means, with respect to a year, the second year beginning after such year.(bb) Estimated utilization.— The term estimated utilization means an estimate of utilization used for purposes of applying clause (ii)(II).(cc) Specified service.— The term specified service means, with respect to a year, a service—(AA) with expected expenditures for such year under this part based on estimated utilization that exceed the threshold amount (as defined in item (dd)) for such year; and(BB) for which payment had been bundled into payment for another service during the preceding year and for which a separate payment or add-on payment is made during such year.(dd) Threshold amount.— The term threshold amount means, with respect to a year, 0.1 percent of the total estimated expenditures under this part for services furnished under this section during such year.

    The bill says: Section 1848(c)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:

  5. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(iv)(V)changedby H.R. 8163 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: in subclause (V), by striking "and" at the end;

  6. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(iv)(VI)changedby H.R. 8163 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: in subclause (VI), by striking the period and inserting "; and"; and

  7. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(iv)added (VII)by H.R. 8163 Sec. 3(b)

    (VII) clause (vii)(I)(bb) for an assumption correction period (as defined in clause (vii)(II)) shall not be taken into account in applying clause (ii)(II) with respect to such period.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new subclause:

  8. 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(c)(2)(B)(v)added (XII)by H.R. 8163 Sec. 3(b)

    (XII) Reductions attributable to an assumption correction.— For an assumption correction period (as defined in clause (vii)(II)), reduced expenditures attributable to application of clause (vii)(I)(bb) with respect to such period.

    The bill says: in clause (v), by adding at the end the following new subclause:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026

This bill allows for larger annual adjustments to the Medicare physician fee schedule. It also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make 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.

Current law prohibits annual adjustments to the Medicare physician fee schedule that would result in a more than $20 million difference between the adjusted amount and the non-adjusted amount of total expenditures. The bill increases this threshold to $54.3 million beginning in 2027, with adjustments for inflation every five years beginning in 2032.

Additionally, for certain services, the bill requires the CMS to determine the difference between expenditures based on estimated utilization of the service and expenditures based on actual utilization. If this difference exceeds a certain percentage of total expenditures under the fee schedule, the CMS must reconcile this difference by adjusting payments for the following year. This requirement applies to services for which payment was bundled with another service and there was a separate or add-on payment during the previous year.

Read the whole official summary (251 words, about 1 min)

Finally, the CMS must update the prices and rates of each category of direct costs that affect payments (e.g., prices of equipment) at least every five years, with updates made to each category in the same year. The bill also prohibits the CMS from varying a certain adjustment factor by more than 2.5% each year.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Mar 30, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. May 21, 2026Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.House committee actions
  2. May 21, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
  3. Mar 30, 2026Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.House floor actions
  4. Mar 30, 2026Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.House floor actions
  5. Mar 30, 2026Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  6. Mar 30, 2026Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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Cosponsors

  • Gabe Amo D-RI-1
  • Brian Babin R-TX-36
  • Tom Barrett R-MI-7
  • Joyce Beatty D-OH-3
  • Ami Bera D-CA-6
  • Brendan F. Boyle D-PA-2
  • Janelle S. Bynum D-OR-5
  • Salud O. Carbajal D-CA-24
  • André Carson D-IN-7
  • Juan Ciscomani R-AZ-6
  • Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. D-CA-31
  • Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. D-NJ-3
Show 78 more cosponsors
  • J. Luis Correa D-CA-46
  • Jim Costa D-CA-21
  • Sharice Davids D-KS-3
  • Donald G. Davis D-NC-1
  • Neal P. Dunn R-FL-2
  • Chuck Edwards R-NC-11
  • Ron Estes R-KS-4
  • Brian K. Fitzpatrick R-PA-1
  • Andrew R. Garbarino R-NY-2
  • Jared F. Golden D-ME-2
  • Daniel S. Goldman D-NY-10
  • Vicente Gonzalez D-TX-34
  • Maggie Goodlander D-NH-2
  • Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
  • Al Green D-TX-9
  • Andy Harris R-MD-1
  • Jahana Hayes D-CT-5
  • Ronny Jackson R-TX-13
  • Julie Johnson D-TX-32
  • John Joyce R-PA-13
  • Thomas H. Kean, Jr. R-NJ-7
  • Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
  • Mike Kennedy R-UT-3
  • Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
  • Raja Krishnamoorthi D-IL-8
  • Darin LaHood R-IL-16
  • George Latimer D-NY-16
  • Michael Lawler R-NY-17
  • Susie Lee D-NV-3
  • Ted Lieu D-CA-36
  • Zoe Lofgren D-CA-18
  • John W. Mannion D-NY-22
  • April McClain Delaney D-MD-6
  • Kristen McDonald Rivet D-MI-8
  • Morgan McGarvey D-KY-3
  • LaMonica McIver D-NJ-10
  • Analilia Mejia D-NJ-11
  • Daniel Meuser R-PA-9
  • Carol D. Miller R-WV-1
  • Max L. Miller R-OH-7
  • Mariannette Miller-Meeks R-IA-1
  • Blake D. Moore R-UT-1
  • Tim Moore R-NC-14
  • Gwen Moore D-WI-4
  • Joseph D. Morelle D-NY-25
  • James C. Moylan R-GU-At Large
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Robert F. Onder, Jr. R-MO-3
  • Jimmy Panetta D-CA-19
  • Brittany Pettersen D-CO-7
  • Nellie Pou D-NJ-9
  • Emily Randall D-WA-6
  • Josh Riley D-NY-19
  • Deborah K. Ross D-NC-2
  • Bradley Scott Schneider D-IL-10
  • Hillary J. Scholten D-MI-3
  • Kim Schrier D-WA-8
  • Rep. David Scott D-GA-13
  • Terri A. Sewell D-AL-7
  • Lloyd Smucker R-PA-11
  • Eric Sorensen D-IL-17
  • Haley M. Stevens D-MI-11
  • Marilyn Strickland D-WA-10
  • Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
  • Claudia Tenney R-NY-24
  • Shri Thanedar D-MI-13
  • Glenn Thompson R-PA-15
  • Bennie G. Thompson D-MS-2
  • Dina Titus D-NV-1
  • Ritchie Torres D-NY-15
  • Derek Tran D-CA-45
  • Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2
  • Derrick Van Orden R-WI-3
  • Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7
  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-FL-25
  • George Whitesides D-CA-27
  • Nikema Williams D-GA-5
  • Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1