Bill would let doctors and Medicare patients sign private pay contracts
In committeeS. 4583Latest action
Sponsor: Rand Paul · Senator · KY
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Legalizing Premium Health Care Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
The Legalizing Premium Health Care Act of 2026 lets doctors and Medicare patients agree to charge above Medicare's rates.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill would let doctors and Medicare patients sign private contracts setting whatever price they agree on for a service, while the patient could still claim Medicare reimbursement at normal rates. Contracts must be written, signed in advance, and can't be made during emergencies. Doctors would keep their Medicare participation status despite these arrangements, and the bill overrides state laws capping such charges.
Who does it affect?
Medicare beneficiaries (mostly people 65+ and some with disabilities) and the doctors and licensed professionals who treat them. Dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients could not use these contracts.
Why does it matter?
Providers could charge more than Medicare's standard rates for covered services, potentially increasing patients' out-of-pocket costs, while state price-cap protections would no longer apply.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 20, 2026
- Senate committeeYou are here · May 20, 2026
- Senate vote
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.