PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.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.
Congressional Research Service
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People & committees
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6] · R–OH
Legislative record
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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.
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.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 6, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-15 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This proposal would revise Medicare payments to federally qualified health centers, with a 2028 adjustment tied to estimated costs. It would change payments for eligible remote medical visits provided by those centers and rural health clinics starting in 2027, within an existing statutory period. It would also require payment guidance and a process for health centers to challenge payment determinations for services to Medicare Advantage enrollees.
adjust payment rates determined under paragraph (2)(B) for Federally qualified health center services furnished in 2028
is equal to 100 percent of the estimated amount of reasonable costs
A telehealth service furnished to an eligible telehealth individual by a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic during any portion of the period described in subparagraph (A) beginning on or after January 1, 2027, shall be paid as a Federally qualified health center service or rural health clinic service
issue guidance to Federally qualified health centers
establish a mechanism by which such a center may seek review by the Secretary of such a contractor’s determination of amounts payable to the center under such section.
Section 1 would name the bill the Community Health Center Reforms Enabling Better Access for Seniors and Elders Act of 2026, or CHC REBASE Act of 2026.
This Act may be cited as the Community Health Center Reforms Enabling Better Access for Seniors and Elders Act of 2026 or the CHC REBASE Act of 2026.
Section 2 would require the Secretary to adjust health center payment rates for services furnished in 2028 through rulemaking that allows public comment, considering collected data and working-group recommendations. The adjustment would account for increased services and costs. Its overall target would be 100% of estimated reasonable costs under the specified calculation, without a per-visit payment limit or productivity screen. This is an aggregate target, not a guarantee that each center would recover all its costs.
The Secretary shall, through notice and comment rulemaking and taking into account data collected under subparagraph (B) and recommendations of the working group established under subparagraph (C)
adjust payment rates determined under paragraph (2)(B) for Federally qualified health center services furnished in 2028 to account for increases in the type, intensity, duration, and amount of services furnished in a unit of service and corresponding increases in the cost of furnishing a unit of service in a manner such that the estimated aggregate amount of prospective payment rates (determined prior to the application of section 1833(a)(1)(Z)) for such services is equal to 100 percent of the estimated amount of reasonable costs (determined without the application of a per visit payment limit or productivity screen and prior to the application of section 1866(a)(2)(A)(ii)) that would have occurred for such services under this title in such year had the system established under this subsection never been implemented
Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary would have to modify the referenced list of health center services. The bill does not specify which services must be added or removed.
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, modify the list of services furnished to an individual at a Federally qualified health center under subparagraph (1)(A).
Within 90 days after enactment, the Secretary would have to require health centers to submit cost reports, uniform data system reports, and other legally required health center program reports to support the payment adjustment. Those data would also have to be provided to the working group.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall require Federally qualified health centers to submit cost reports, uniform data system reports, and any other health center program reports required by law to facilitate the adjustment described in subparagraph (A).
The Secretary shall make data required to be submitted under clause (i) available to the working group established under subparagraph (C).
The Secretary would have to convene a payment working group within 180 days after enactment. Required members would include a health center patient or board member, a qualifying clinician working at a center, representatives of primary care associations and health center organizations and networks, and a representative from the specified Medicare agency policy group. The Secretary could select additional members.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall convene a working group to make recommendations to the Secretary on modifications to the prospective payment system established under this subsection.
The working group shall be composed of such members as selected by the Secretary and shall include— (I) a patient or member of the board of a Federally qualified health center; (II) a physician, or a practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C), who works at such a center; (III) at least 1 representative from a primary care association; (IV) at least 1 representative from a Health Center Controlled Network (as defined in section 330(e)(1)(C) of the Public Health Service Act); (V) a representative from a national organization that represents Federally qualified health centers; (VI) a representative from the hospital and ambulatory policy group of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and (VII) such other individuals as the Secretary may specify.
The working group would examine service and cost changes, whether rates capture the specified estimated reasonable costs, and whether excluded services should become payable. It would also evaluate extending payment and care-delivery innovations developed for physician services to health centers and could examine other health center payment issues.
examine potential adjustments to payment rates under paragraph (2)(B) to reflect changes in the type, intensity, duration, or amount of services furnished within a unit of service, and the average cost of providing care per unit of service
evaluate whether such rates capture 100 percent of the estimated amount of reasonable costs for Federally qualified health center services (determined without the application of a per visit payment limit or productivity screen and prior to the application of section 1866(a)(2)(A)(ii)) that would have occurred for such services under this title in such year had the system established under this subsection never been implemented
examine which services are excluded from payment under such system and whether such services should be payable as Federally qualified health center services
evaluate the possibility of extending application of new payment and delivery system innovations developed with respect to physicians’ services under section 1848 to Federally qualified health centers
examine such other issues relating to payment for Federally qualified health centers as determined appropriate by the working group.
The working group would have to offer an opportunity for public comment and submit its payment recommendations within one year after first convening.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the working group first convenes and after providing opportunity for public comment, such group shall make such recommendations to the Secretary regarding payment for Federally qualified health centers as determined appropriate by the working group.
Section 3 would move eligible telehealth services to the health center payment system or rural health clinic rate method, as applicable, for services on or after January 1, 2027, during the existing statutory period referenced in the bill. The amendments would limit the existing special payment rule to services before that date. The supplied text does not define the referenced period, so it does not establish how long the new rule would apply.
in clause (i), by striking during the periods for which subparagraph (A) applies and inserting before January 1, 2027
A telehealth service furnished to an eligible telehealth individual by a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic during any portion of the period described in subparagraph (A) beginning on or after January 1, 2027, shall be paid as a Federally qualified health center service or rural health clinic service (as applicable) under the prospective payment system established under section 1834(o) or the methodology for all-inclusive rates established under section 1833(a)(3), respectively.
Costs of telehealth services furnished during that same applicable period beginning on or after January 1, 2027, would count as allowable costs under the relevant health center or rural health clinic payment method.
Costs associated with the furnishing of telehealth services by a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic during any portion of the period described in subparagraph (A) beginning on or after January 1, 2027, shall be considered allowable costs for purposes of the prospective payment system established under section 1834(o) and the methodology for all-inclusive rates established under section 1833(a)(3), as applicable.
Section 4 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance by December 31, 2026, explaining how health centers calculate and claim the referenced payments for services to Medicare Advantage enrollees.
4. Ensuring appropriate payment of Federally qualified health center services furnished to Medicare Advantage enrollees
Not later than December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall— (1) issue guidance to Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(4))) on— (A) the calculation of payment amounts under section 1833(a)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(3)(B)); and (B) procedures for submitting a claim for such a payment
By December 31, 2026, the Secretary would also have to issue guidance to Medicare administrative contractors establishing a standardized payment process. That guidance would clarify that a contractor cannot require a center or its representative to submit the relevant Medicare Advantage plan contract as a condition of receiving these payments.
Not later than December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall
issue guidance to Medicare administrative contractors to ensure timely and accurate payment of amounts owed under such section that— (A) outlines a standardized process for providing Federally qualified health centers such payments; and (B) clarifies that such contractors may not require such a center (or any entity acting on behalf of such center) to submit the Medicare Advantage plan contract at issue to such contractor as a prerequisite to receiving such payments
By December 31, 2026, the Secretary would have to create a process allowing a health center to request the Secretary's review of a Medicare administrative contractor's determination of the amount payable to that center.
Not later than December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall
establish a mechanism by which such a center may seek review by the Secretary of such a contractor’s determination of amounts payable to the center under such section.
Within 180 days after enactment, the Comptroller General would have to report to Congress on health centers' inclusion in Medicare Advantage provider networks. The report would recommend actions to ensure adequate access for rural and underserved populations; this provision itself does not require plans to add particular centers.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that examines the inclusion of Federally qualified health centers in Medicare Advantage plan provider networks. Such report shall include recommendations for actions to be taken to ensure adequate access to Federally qualified health centers for rural and underserved populations.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 6, 2026, records introduction in the House on September 15, 2026, and referral that day to the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees. It does not establish subsequent legislative action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-06T08:05:31Z.
2026-09-15: Introduced in House
2026-09-15: 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 closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-15. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; formal earmark status cannot be established for absent accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential carve-out beyond the main policy's intended coverage and routine payment administration was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 6, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI