CARE Act of 2025

Hozzl · 2025-04-18T08:05:18Z

Explore the details of House Bill 2538 CARE Act of 2025 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Health. Stay informed on legislative developments.

4/18/2025, 8:05 AM

Summary of Bill HR 2538

Bill 119 HR 2538, also known as the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Act, aims to make changes to the Social Security Act in order to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a new model for responding to emergencies under the Medicare program.

The CARE Act seeks to address the current challenges in emergency response by testing a comprehensive alternative response model. This model would focus on providing more efficient and effective care to Medicare beneficiaries during emergencies, with the goal of improving outcomes and reducing costs.

The bill would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to conduct a test of this alternative response model, which would involve evaluating the impact of the model on patient outcomes, costs, and overall quality of care. The results of this test would then be used to inform future policy decisions related to emergency response within the Medicare program. Overall, the CARE Act aims to improve the way emergency care is delivered to Medicare beneficiaries by testing a new model that focuses on efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of care. This bill has the potential to have a significant impact on how emergency response is handled within the Medicare program, ultimately benefiting both patients and the healthcare system as a whole.

Congressional Summary of HR 2538

Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies Act of 2025 or the CARE Act of 2025

This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a five-year model that provides for Medicare payment for ground ambulance services that do not result in the transport of the patient.

Under the model, Medicare payment may be furnished for ground ambulance services when an ambulance is dispatched in response to an emergency medical call but the ambulance does not end up transporting the patient. Payment rates under the model must generally align with the payment rates that apply when there is an actual transport.

The Government Accountability Office must report on the general access of Medicare beneficiaries to emergency medical services, including the impact of the model on beneficiary access and outcomes.

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Current Status of Bill HR 2538

Bill HR 2538 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 1, 2025. Bill HR 2538 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on April 1, 2025. Bill HR 2538's most recent activity 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. as of April 1, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 2538

Total Number of Sponsors

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Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

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Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 2538

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 2538

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a comprehensive alternative response for emergencies model under the Medicare program.