Ways and Means Committee advances Medicare access bills for pharmacies, physicians and home dialysis

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Ways and Means advances Medicare access bills

Highlights

The House Ways and Means Committee advanced H.R. 3164, enabling pharmacists to receive Medicare reimbursement for respiratory illness tests and treatments, expanding care in rural areas.
The package includes H.R. 8163 to update the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, addressing concerns over the system's unpredictability and supporting independent physician practices.
H.R. 8875 expands home dialysis benefits, allowing more end-stage renal disease patients access to staff-assisted and mental health services at home, with only 15 percent currently in home care.

Medicare reimbursement changes and care expansion

As reported by the House Committee on Ways and Means, the recently approved legislation includes the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act, H.R. 3164, which allows pharmacists to receive Medicare reimbursements for administering tests and treatments for common respiratory illnesses including strep throat, influenza and RSV.

The committee says the change is designed to use pharmacies as a more accessible point of care, particularly because 90 percent of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. That access is especially significant for patients in rural and underserved communities, where pharmacists may be the nearest available health care provider.

The package also includes the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026, H.R. 8163, which updates the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The committee says the current physician payment system is outdated and unpredictable, making it harder for doctors to sustain independent practices and offer patients lower-cost care choices.

Implications for kidney treatment and provider access

The legislation also addresses kidney care through the Improving Home Dialysis Act of 2026, H.R. 8875. The bill allows more patients with kidney disease to receive staff-assisted dialysis treatments and renal mental health services at home, aiming to narrow support gaps between home and clinic settings.

The committee says only 15 percent of end-stage renal disease patients currently use home dialysis, despite benefits that include faster recovery times, fewer side effects, improved cardiac status and longer life expectancy. Expanding in-home treatment options could widen access for patients who face logistical or geographic barriers to clinic-based care.

More than two dozen organizations representing pharmacists, physicians and other health care stakeholders are expressing support for the committee's work. Their backing suggests the measures are drawing broader industry support as policymakers continue to focus on Medicare access and provider stability.

Our earlier article on Cigna (CI) examined the insurer’s near-term stock outlook alongside the company’s longer-term positioning in healthcare services. We noted Cigna’s recurring revenue base and the continuing impact of its Express Scripts integration in expanding pharmacy benefit capabilities, while also flagging technical weakness and a potential inflection point around the upcoming CEO transition.

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