Take Back Our Hospitals Act of 2026

Christopher Murphy

Democrat · CT · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Jeff Merkley (D-OR)Original· 2026-03-12
• Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)Original· 2026-03-12

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

2026-03-12

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would likely give states and local governments more control over hospital operations and pricing, reducing federal oversight of how hospitals are run and what they can charge patients. The changes would affect hospitals, patients seeking care, and insurance companies that negotiate rates with medical facilities. The specific details of how much control shifts and which federal rules would be reduced are not yet clear from the bill's current status in committee.

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.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4085 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4085 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2026 Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prevent hospitals or skilled nursing facilities that are owned by certain firms from participating in the Medicare program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Take Back Our Hospitals Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PREVENTING HOSPITALS AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES OWNED BY CERTAIN FIRMS FROM PARTICIPATING IN MEDICARE. Section 1862 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(p) Prohibition on Payments to Hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities Owned by Certain Firms.-- ``(1) In general.-- ``(A) Prohibition.--No payment may be made under this title to a hospital or skilled nursing facility that is owned or controlled by a covered firm or an affiliate of a covered firm. ``(B) Exception.--If, on the date of enactment of this subsection, a hospital or skilled nursing facility is owned or controlled by a covered firm or an affiliate of such a firm, such hospital or skilled nursing facility shall not be considered in violation of subparagraph (A) until the date that is 3 years after such date of enactment. ``(2) Notice, hearing, and judicial review.--Any hospital or skilled nursing facility found to be in violation of paragraph (1) shall be entitled to reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing as described in section 1128(f). ``(3) Joint and several liability.--A covered firm or an affiliate of such a firm that owns or is an affiliate of a hospital or skilled nursing facility that is in violation of paragraph (1) shall be jointly and severally liable for any penalty or obligation such hospital or skilled nursing facility receives for such violation. ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Affiliate.--The term `affiliate' means an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another entity. ``(B) Control.-- ``(i) In general.--The term `control' means to possess the power, directly or indirectly, to direct, or cause the direction of, the management, administrative functions, assets, or policies of an entity through owning voting securities in such entity, contracting with such entity (except for contracting with such entity for goods or non-management services), or other similar means, as determined by the Secretary. ``(ii) Voting securities.--A person shall be considered to control an entity if such person directly or indirectly owns, has rights over, or holds with the power to vote, 10 percent or more of the voting securities of such entity. ``(C) Corporation.--The term `corporation' means-- ``(i) a joint-stock company; ``(ii) a company or partnership association organized under a law that makes only the capital subscribed or callable up to a specified amount responsible for the debts of the company or partnership association, and includes a limited partnership and a limited liability company; ``(iii) a trust; or ``(iv) an association that-- ``(I) possesses the power or privilege of a private corporation under State law; and ``(II) does not possess the power or privilege of a sole proprietorship or…

partnership under State law. ``(D) Covered firm.--The term `covered firm' means-- ``(i) a private equity fund; ``(ii) a corporation that is owned or controlled by a private equity fund; or ``(iii) a real estate investment trust. ``(E) Private equity fund.--The term `private equity fund' means a person who-- ``(i) would be considered an investment company under section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3) but for the application of paragraph (1) or (7) of subsection (c) of such section; and ``(ii) directly, or through an affiliate, acts as a control person of such company. ``(F) Real estate investment trust.--The term `real estate investment trust' has the meaning given such term in section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''. <all>

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