Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create expanded Medicare and private insurance coverage of kidney disease education services. It broadens who can get and deliver education and sets up a working group to measure what actually helps patients.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Expanded Medicare kidney education and payment
If enacted, Medicare would let more people get kidney disease education. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, any stage of chronic kidney disease, or other risk factors (as determined by the qualified entity) would be eligible. Education could be individual or group, in person or by telehealth, and your caregiver could join if you want. The bill would remove the old six-session limit and let the Secretary set the appropriate number of sessions after consultation. For services on or after January 1, 2027, Medicare payment for each kidney education visit would be 100% of the lesser of the provider's billed charge or the Medicare fee-schedule amount.
Private plans must cover kidney education
If enacted, private health plans would have to treat kidney disease education as a required preventive service. The change would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. If you have a private plan covered by the rule, this could reduce your out-of-pocket costs for kidney education services.
Kidney education measurement and review group
If enacted, HHS would form a working group within 180 days to develop ways to measure the effectiveness of kidney disease education. The group would include patients, caregivers, providers, technology and education experts, and CMS representatives, and would report public recommendations within 18 months. The Secretary would then have up to two years after the report to set a detailed assessment framework and could change payment, coverage, or quality rules based on those results.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov