Stop Deadly Denials Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8377 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8377 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to limit the implementation of payment models testing prior authorization under traditional Medicare, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 20, 2026 Mr. Khanna (for himself, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Pocan) 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 prohibit the use of prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to limit the implementation of payment models testing prior authorization under traditional Medicare, 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 ``Stop Deadly Denials Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. (a) In General.--Section 1852 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-22) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(o) Limitation on Prior Authorization.-- ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, a Medicare Advantage plan may not impose any prior authorization r