Medicare Patient Choice Act

Bill: 119-hr-4204
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]
Introduced: 2025-06-26
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2025-06-26
text: 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.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4204 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2025 Mr. Smucker (for himself and Mr. Davis of North Carolina ) 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 allow Medicare beneficiaries to choose their physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Patient Choice Act . 2. Free choice of therapists for Medicare beneficiaries Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395a(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (B) in clause (v), by striking physicians or practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, or qualified audiologists ; and (C) in the matter following clause (v), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (C) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (ii) in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (D) in subparagraph (C)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (ii) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (iii) in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (E) in subparagraph (D), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; (4) in paragraph (5)— (A) in the heading, by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and (C) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in the manner preceding clause (i), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; (ii) in clause (iv), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and (iii) in clause (v), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and (5) in paragraph (6)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of ; (B) in subparagraph (D)— (i) in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (ii) by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (E) Therapist The term therapist means a qualified physical therapist (as such term is used in section 1861(p)), a qualified occupational therapist (as such term is used in 1861(g)), or a qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in 1861(ll)(4)(A)). (F) Qualified audiologist The term qualified audiologist has the meaning given such term in section 1861(ll)(4)(B). .