# 119-hr-5281: REAL Health Providers Act

119-hr-5281, REAL Health Providers Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5281
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5281
- Congress: 119
- Title: REAL Health Providers Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Strengthens accuracy and accountability for Medicare Advantage provider directories.** The bill would apply to specified MA plans starting in plan year 2028 and require regular verification, richer directory data, and cost-sharing protections when a listed non‑participating provider furnishes care. - Medicare Advantage enrollees would see more detailed public online directories that must include provider name, specialty, contact info, primary office address, whether the provider is accepting new patients, disability accommodations, cultural and linguistic capabilities, and telehealth capabilities. Plans must notify enrollees and explain cost‑sharing protections in enrollment materials and explanations of benefits. - MA organizations would verify directory information at least every 90 days, with hospitals or similar facilities allowed verification no less often than annually, and must remove a provider within 5 business days if they are no longer participating. Accuracy scores would be posted in machine‑readable form on CMS’s website beginning after January 1, 2029. - The bill creates an accountability and oversight framework with annual accuracy analyses, a GAO study and final report due January 15, 2032, a public stakeholder meeting within 3 months, and HHS guidance within 12 months. It also authorizes a $4.0 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2026 to the CMS Program Management Account to implement these changes. *Would increase federal spending by $4.0 million in Fiscal Year 2026 for CMS program management.*

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3] (R-NC), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (R-PA), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare Advantage: Lower bills for wrong listings: benefit, medium. Starting in plan year 2028, some Medicare Advantage plans would add cost-sharing protections. If you book with a provider listed in your plan’s directory that turns out to be out-of-network, you would pay only the lower of two amounts. You would owe either your in-network cost share or the usual ou…
- Stronger Medicare Advantage provider directories: benefit, medium. Starting in 2028, specified Medicare Advantage plans would need a public, accurate online provider directory. Plans would verify entries at least every 90 days, flag unverified info, and remove providers within 5 business days after they leave the network. Directories would include information abou…
- CMS funding: $4 million to implement: benefit, low. For fiscal year 2026, the bill would provide $4 million to CMS. The money would remain available until spent. It would fund work to carry out the new Medicare Advantage directory and protection rules.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-6130: ASAP Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5281 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5281)

## Related
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-6130: ASAP Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6130)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1065)
- [119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3277)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5281 (as of 2026-04-21).