Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026

Debbie Dingell

Democrat · MI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

2026-07-15

Source: Congress.gov

Medicare currently bundles the cost of blood transfusions into the flat daily payment hospice providers receive, meaning transfusions don't generate additional reimbursement. This bill would require the government to test whether allowing separate payment for blood transfusions would improve access to this treatment for dying patients in hospice care. The test would help determine if unbundling this service encourages hospice providers to offer transfusions when medically appropriate.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

119 HR 9703 IH: Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026 U.S. House of Representatives 2026-07-15 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9703IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 15, 2026Mrs. Dingell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test allowing blood transfusions to be paid separately from the Medicare hospice all-inclusive per diem payment. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026. 2.Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation testing of allowing blood transfusions to be paid separately from the Medicare hospice all-inclusive per diem paymentSection 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the end the following new sentence: The models selected under this subparagraph shall include the testing of the model described in subsection (h).; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (h)Testing of allowing blood transfusions To be paid separately from the Medicare hospice all-Inclusive per diem payment (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the CMI shall establish and implement a model under which blood transfusions furnished to an individual receiving hospice care are paid separately from the hospice all-inclusive per diem payment under section 1814(i). The separate payment amount for such blood transfusion shall be the amount that would otherwise apply under title XVIII if the transfusion was not furnished as part of hospice care. (2)Requirements for evaluationIn conducting any evaluation of the model described in paragraph (1) pursuant to subsection (b)(4), the CMI shall ensure it compares participants under the model with similar patients outside of the model with respect to the following metrics: (A)The number of chemotherapy services furnished in the last 14 days of life. (B)Hospital utilization in the last 30 days of life, including emergency department visits, in-patient and observation status stays (including the length of the stays), and intensive care unit (ICU) days. (C)How many days receiving hospice care before the end of life. (D)The number of patients receiving hospice care who received a transfusion compared to patients with similar diagnoses not receiving hospice care. (E)The average frequency of transfusion for patients receiving hospice care compared to patients not receiving hospice care. (F)The number of transfusions for patients receiving hospice care compared to patients not receiving hospice care. (G) Other areas determined appropriate by the CMI..

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