# 119-hr-9851: Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026

119-hr-9851, Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1] (R-NE); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9851
- As of: 2026-08-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9851
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1] (R-NE)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-27

## Summary

**Guarantees Medicare patients the ability to have a clergy member of their choice visit them during care.** The bill would amend Medicare rules so providers must allow patient‑designated clergy access, starting January 1, 2028, while that individual receives items and services, subject to safety protocols the Secretary defines.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare patients can have clergy visits: benefit, low. If enacted, Medicare patients would be able to have a clergy member they choose visit them at a Medicare provider. This would start January 1, 2028. The provider would have to allow the visit when the patient asks. This requirement would apply even if a section 1135 emergency waiver is in effect. T…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4312: SCORE Act
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6955: Main Street Capital Access Act
- 119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-9851 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9851)

## Related
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3816)
- [119-hr-4312: SCORE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4312)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-6955: Main Street Capital Access Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6955)
- [119-hr-4317: PBM Reform Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4317)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9851 (as of 2026-08-27).