On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Health Subcommittee for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce held a hearing to discuss legislative proposals that aim to support patient access to Medicare services.

Led by Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), members on both sides of the aisle emphasized the importance of ensuring accessible, affordable, high-quality health care for Medicare beneficiaries. Majority members focused their discussion on protecting rural communities, and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare services. Minority members reiterated concerns on health care affordability, specifically regarding reductions of childhood vaccination recommendations, Medicaid funding cuts, and eliminating Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits.

Witnesses included: Susan Van Meter, President, American Clinical Laboratory Association; Connie Sullivan, President and CEO, National Home Infusion Association; Thomas Ryan, President and CEO, American Association for Homecare; and David Lipschutz, Attorney and Co-Director of Law and Policy, Center for Medicare Advocacy.

Connie Sullivan highlighted the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (HR 2172), a bill that ensures the Medicare home infusion benefit is accessible to recipients. Many Medicare beneficiaries cannot receive this benefit due to the lack of provider participation, which leaves patients and caregivers unnecessarily burdened by travel, especially in rural areas. The legislation garnered bipartisan support during the hearing, with Rep. DeGette, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Subcommittee Vice Chair Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) highlighting its importance for lowering costs for older adults.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) voiced support for the Senior Savings Protection Act (HR 6210), which helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries understand all of their options and choose Medicare coverage that works for them. The bill would reauthorized funding for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), and benefit enrollment centers, which assist people within their community to access federal and state programs that can pay for their daily needs. Additionally, these programs can unveil additional benefits that a recipient was not aware they were eligible for. LeadingAge supports this legislation.

The hearing also addressed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate prior authorization requirements. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) mentioned establishing guardrails on machine-learning tools and a more standardized system for physicians to make authorization determinations. Witness David Lipschutz and Rep. Greg Landsman (R-OH) highlighted the Ban AI Denials in Medicare Act (HR 6361), which would prohibit the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) from testing the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) model, which uses private vendors using AI to approve or deny coverage. Rep. Landsman, Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and witness Susan Van Meter underscored the promising future of AI in the health care space, but stressed the need for necessary regulations. LeadingAge previously outlined similar concerns in 2025 testimony regarding HR 1.

Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) rasied questions on HR 5243, which seeks to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage. More robust data would provide a clearer picture of which services are being offered, who is using them, and how beneficiaries are benefiting. Mr. Lipschutz called for more unbiased, transparent information that will help older adults make informed decisions about their supplemental benefit options. LeadingAge supports this bill and has long called for more data transparency in Medicare Advantage including in supplemental benefits.

Overall, this hearing explored bipartisan strategies to help older Americans stay informed on different Medicare services, improve data and transparency among the programs offered, and regulate emerging technologies in the insurance space. LeadingAge is tracking the legislation examined in this hearing and will continue to stay up to date on proposed bills.

Read witness testimony and watch the hearing here.