A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4085 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4085 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2026 Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program. 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 ``Take Back Our Hospitals Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PREVENTING HOSPITALS AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES OWNED BY CERTAIN FIRMS FROM PARTICIPATING IN MEDICARE. Section 1862 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(p) Prohibition on Payments to Hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities Owned by Certain Firms.-- ``(1) In general.-- ``(A) Prohibition.--No payment may be made under this title to a hospital or skilled nursing facility that is owned or controlled by a covered firm or an affiliate of a covered firm. ``(B) Exception.--If, on the date of enactment of this subsection, a hospital or skilled nursing facility is owned or controlled by a covered firm or an affiliate of such a firm, such hospital or skilled nursing facility shall not be considered in violation of subparagraph (A) until the date that is 3 years after such date of enactment. ``(2) Notice, hearing, and judicial review.--Any hospital