H.R. 9972

119 HR 9972 IH: American Patients First Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-07-27
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 9972  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   July 27, 2026   Mr. Sessions  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on  Ways and Means , 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 adjust payment for skin substitute products under the Medicare program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   American Patients First Act of 2026  .
2.
Payment reform for skin substitute products
(a)
Coverage of skin substitute products
Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (JJ), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (KK), by adding  and  at the end; and
(3)
by inserting after subparagraph (KK) the following new subparagraph:
(LL)
skin substitute products (as defined in section 1847A(c)(6)(J)).
 .
(b)
Payment
(1)
Payment amount
Section 1847A of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–3a ) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)(1)—
(i)
by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ;
(ii)
by striking  shall apply to  and inserting
shall apply—
(A)
to
 ; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B)
to payment for skin substitute products (as defined in subsection (c)(6)(J)) that are furnished during the period beginning on January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2030.
 ; and
(B)
in subsection (b)—
(i)
in paragraph (1)—
(I)
in the text preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting  or a skin substitute product  after  drug or biological ;
(II)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  or  at the end;
(III)
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ; and
(IV)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(D)
in the case of a skin substitute product (as defined in subsection (c)(6)(J)) furnished during the period beginning on January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2030, $457 per square centimeter.
 ; and
(ii)
in paragraph (2)—
(I)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  or a skin substitute product  after  drug or biological ; and
(II)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  , and, with respect to a skin substitute product, a square centimeter  after  pertaining to liquids .
(2)
Conforming amendments
Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1) ) is amended—
(A)
in subparagraph (S)(i), by striking  subject to subparagraph (EE)  and inserting  subject to subparagraphs (EE) and (II) ;
(B)
by striking  and (HH)  and inserting  (HH) ; and
(C)
by inserting  , and (II) with respect to skin substitute products under section 1861(s)(2)(LL) furnished during the period beginning on January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2030, the amount paid shall be 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or the payment amount established under section 1847A(b)(1)(D)  before the semicolon at the end.
(c)
Skin substitute product defined
Section 1847A(c)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3a(c)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(J)
Skin substitute products
(i)
In general
Subject to  clause (ii) , the term  skin substitute product —
(I)
means a cellular, tissue, biological or synthetic material that—
(aa)
is applied to a wound and intended to remain within the wound bed; and
(bb)
is marketed pursuant to section 510(k), 513(f)(2), or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or section 361 of the Public Health Service Act; and
(II)
includes any products reimbursed pursuant to skin substitutes codes under this title at any time prior to January 1, 2027.
(ii)
Exclusions
The term  skin substitute product  does not include—
(I)
any product that is intended to temporarily protect or cover the wound bed and be removed without resorption such as a dressing; or
(II)
any product that does not meet the domestic sourcing and distribution requirements described in  clause (iii) , unless a waiver under clause (iv) is in effect with respect to such product.
(iii)
Domestic sourcing and distribution requirements
For purposes of  clause (ii) , the domestic sourcing and distribution requirements described in this clause are, with respect to a product described in  clause (i) , the following:
(I)
All human cellular or tissue material contained in such product was donated by citizens or nationals of the United States, or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, and any such donation was made within the United States in accordance with applicable Federal law.
(II)
All harvesting and processing (as applicable) and all manufacturing of such product occurred exclusively within the United States, and such harvesting, processing, and manufacturing was performed in compliance with all applicable standards of the Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Tissue Banks.
(III)
The product is distributed solely by the entity holding the applicable clearance, approval, or registration for such product under section 510(k), 513(f)(2), or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, and no intermediaries, or agents were involved in the distribution of such product to the furnishing provider, except that a third-party distributor that adheres to and is able to perform the contractual requirements associated with the scope of work and is qualified and able to adhere to the legal and regulatory requirements defined in the scope of work may be involved in such distribution.
(IV)
The entity described in  subclause (III)  with respect to the product submits to the Secretary, in such form and manner as the Secretary shall specify (but not less frequently than annually), an attestation that the product meets each of the requirements under subclauses (I) through (III).
(iv)
Waiver
The Secretary may waive the requirements under  clause (iii)  with respect to a specific product, for a period not to exceed 180 days, if the Secretary determines that a domestic supply shortage exists and that a waiver is necessary to protect patient access to care.
 .
(d)
Exclusion from reporting requirements
Section 1847A(f)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3a(f)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting  (except that, beginning January 1, 2027, a drug or biological so described does not include a skin substitute product (as defined in subsection (c)(6)(J)))  after  products that are payable under this part as a drug or biological .
(e)
Consolidated billing and payment code
Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a new billing and payment code for all skin substitute products (as defined in subparagraph (J) of section 1847A(c)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3a(c)(6)), as added by subsection (c)).
3.
Enhancing program integrity for skin substitute products
Section 1834 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(bb)
Special payment rules for skin substitute products
(1)
Prepayment claim review and prior authorization
(A)
Initial prepayment claim review for certain providers
(i)
In general
Beginning January 1, 2027, the Secretary shall conduct prepayment review of claims for skin substitute products submitted under this title by a specified provider of skin substitute products unless 1 or more of the conditions described in  clause (ii)  is met with respect to such provider.
(ii)
Limitation
For purposes of  clause (i) , the conditions described in this subparagraph are, with respect to a specified provider of skin substitute products, the following:
(I)
Skin substitute products furnished by the provider are subject to prior authorization under  subparagraph (B) .
(II)
The rate of approval for claims for skin substitute products furnished by such provider that are subject to prepayment review under this subparagraph exceeds 90 percent (as determined over a period of time or number of claims specified by the Secretary).
(III)
The Secretary determines that the billing practices of the provider are consistent with the applicable coverage criteria and requirements under this title.
(B)
Prior authorization for specified providers of skin substitute products
(i)
In general
Beginning not later than January 1, 2028, subject to  clause (ii) , the Secretary shall, for a period of 180 days, apply prior authorization for skin substitute products that are furnished by a specified provider of skin substitute products.
(ii)
Removal from prior authorization
In the event that the Secretary determines, with respect to a specified provider of skin substitute products, that the rate of approval for requests for prior authorization under this subparagraph for skin substitute products furnished by such provider exceeds 90 percent (as determined over a period of time or number of claims specified by the Secretary), the Secretary shall cease to apply prior authorization under this paragraph for skin substitute products furnished by such provider.
(C)
Enrollment revocation or exclusion of noncompliant outlier providers
(i)
In general
Beginning January 1, 2029, if the rate of denial (as determined after the exhaustion of all appeals and reviews) for requests for prior authorization under  subparagraph (B)  for skin substitute products furnished by an outlier provider of skin substitute products exceeds 75 percent over a period of 6 or more consecutive months, the Secretary shall determine that an abuse of billing privileges exists with respect to such provider for purposes of section 424.535(a)(8)(ii) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.
(ii)
Referral for exclusion
If the Secretary determines under  clause (i)  that an abuse of billing privileges exists with respect to an outlier provider of skin substitute products, the Secretary shall direct the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to determine whether such provider should be excluded from participation in any Federal health care program under section 1128(b)(6).
(D)
Specified provider of skin substitute products defined
(i)
In general
For purposes of this paragraph, the term  specified provider of skin substitute products  means—
(I)
an outlier provider of skin substitute products, as determined under  clause (ii) ;
(II)
a provider with respect to which, of all claims for payment under this title submitted in the preceding year, 15 percent or more of such claims were for the provision of skin substitute products; and
(III)
as the Secretary determines appropriate, a provider of skin substitute products that—
(aa)
is newly enrolled under section 1866(j);
(bb)
has undergone a change in ownership during the preceding year;
(cc)
is a high risk provider (as determined by the Secretary under section 424.518 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations); or
(dd)
has a pattern or practice of noncompliance with conditions of participation under this title or a high percentage of previously denied claims (as determined by the Secretary).
(ii)
Identification of outlier providers of skin substitute products
(I)
In general
Not later than December 1, 2026, and every 2 years thereafter through December 1, 2036, the Secretary shall determine the 3 percent of the total number of providers of skin substitute products that are outlier providers of skin substitute products.
(II)
Outlier providers of skin substitute products
The determination of an outlier provider of skin substitute products under this paragraph shall be based upon the providers (as identified by national provider identification number) that received the greatest total payment under this title for skin substitute products furnished in the year preceding the year in which the determination under  subclause (I)  is made.
(III)
Referral to OIG
The Secretary shall—
(aa)
make publicly available the list of outlier providers of skin substitute products identified under each determination under  subclause (I) ; and
(bb)
transmit such list to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services for the assessment of potential fraud, waste, or abuse.
(E)
Funding
For purposes of carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account, of $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2031, to remain available until expended.
(2)
Medicare coverage criteria for skin substitute products
Any skin substitute product furnished during 2027 shall be subject to the same coverage criteria when determining whether the skin substitute product is covered under section 1862(a)(1)(A), unless such product is determined by the Secretary to be unsafe based on evidence of contamination, serious infectious disease, or serious adverse reactions caused by the product. Neither the Secretary nor any Medicare administrative contractor may determine, including through a determination made pursuant to the prepayment review program or prior authorization program described in paragraphs (2) and (3), that a specific skin substitute product furnished in 2027 is not covered under this title based solely on analysis of the clinical evidence relating to that skin substitute product.
(3)
Skin substitute product wastage
(A)
In general
With respect to skin substitute products furnished for the treatment of chronic or acute wounds, payment may only be made under this title for the reasonable and necessary portion of the skin substitute product used in the treatment of the wound, excluding wastage.
(B)
Reasonable and necessary defined
For the purpose of subparagraph (A), the term  reasonable and necessary portion of the skin substitute product  means the greater of—
(i)
350 square centimeters; or
(ii)
120 percent of the size of the treated wound.
(4)
Limitation on repeated applications
Payment may not be made under this title for more than 3 distinct applications of a skin substitute product with respect to the same wound if, in the clinical judgment of the provider furnishing such product, there has been no improvement in the wound.
(5)
Certification requirement
Payment may only be made under this title for a skin substitute product if the provider furnishing such product is certified—
(A)
by the American Board of Wound Management as a certified wound specialist or a certified wound care specialist physician;
(B)
by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board as a certified wound care nurse practitioner;
(C)
by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy as wound care certified; or
(D)
by the American Foot Care Nurses Association as a certified foot care specialist.
(6)
Limitation on provider discounts
For the period beginning on January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2030, payment may not be made under this title for a skin substitute product if the provider furnishing such product obtained such product for less than $342.75 per square centimeter.
(7)
Skin substitute product defined
In this subsection, the term  skin substitute product  has the meaning given such term in section 1847A(c)(6)(J).
 .
4.
Report
(a)
In general
Not later than January 1, 2030, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the wound care industry, including manufacturers of skin substitute products, wound dressings, and related wound management technologies. Such report shall include an analysis of—
(1)
the cost of producing skin substitute products in the United States; and
(2)
patient access to skin substitute products, and the evidence supporting the effectiveness of such products.
(b)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term  appropriate committees of Congress  means—
(A)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(2)
Skin substitute product
The term  skin substitute product  has the meaning given such term in subparagraph (J) of section 1847A(c)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3a(c)(6)), as added by  section 2(c) .