HIGHRegulatoryTier 2
Congress considers healthcare measures before elections
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
House and Senate advanced Medicare payment reform and dental plan fee-setting rules before the election recess, directly affecting oral surgeons’ reimbursement, MIPS compliance, and out-of-network dental plan contracts.
Key points
- House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on Medicare physician payment reform bills including the Patients First Act (HR 9693) before recessing for midterm elections.
- Patients First Act (HR 9693) would add an annual inflation update to physician rates, raise the budget neutrality threshold, and replace MIPS with a new quality payment program.
- House committee reviewed the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act (HR 1521), which would bar federally regulated dental plans from setting fees on non-covered services.
- Senate passed the Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2026 (S 3315) on, requiring HIPAA entities—including dental practices—to implement MFA and encryption or face HHS enforcement.
Who should care
OwnerDSOSpecialist
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