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H.R. 8109119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Mar 26, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8109 raises Medicare payment scores for the lowest-paid quarter of hospitals, starting retroactively from October 1, 2019.
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This bill changes how Medicare calculates payments to hospitals in lower-wage areas. Hospitals with a wage index score below the 25th percentile would have that score raised halfway toward the 25th percentile, increasing their Medicare payments. The change applies retroactively starting October 1, 2019, and total Medicare spending stays the same overall.
This primarily affects hospitals in lower-wage areas, which are often rural or underserved communities. Other hospitals, particularly higher-wage ones, may see small reductions to offset the increases, though guardrails limit how steep those cuts can be.
Hospitals below the 75th percentile cannot have their scores reduced to fund the adjustment, and no hospital's score can fall below 95% of its prior-year level. This means lower-wage hospitals receive more Medicare funding while most other hospitals are largely protected from significant cuts.
The bill is designed to be budget neutral, meaning total Medicare spending does not change. Increases for lower-wage hospitals are offset by small reductions to some higher-wage hospitals.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.