Hospice CARE Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7966 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7966 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the integrity of hospice care furnished under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2026 Ms. Sanchez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the integrity of hospice care furnished under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026'' or the ``Hospice CARE Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF HOSPICE CARE FURNISHED UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. (a) Mandatory Temporary Moratorium on Enrollment.-- (1) In general.--Section 1866(j) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(10) Mandatory temporary moratorium on enrollment of hospice programs.-- ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall impose a nationwide temporary moratorium on the enrollment of new hospice programs under this title for the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph. ``(B) Exemption for certain hospices.-- ``(i) In general.--The Secretary may exempt a hospice program seeking to enroll und