Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
The Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act of 2026 sets strict deadlines for Medicare administrative contractors to review requests for local coverage determinations, which are decisions about whether Medicare will cover specific medical services in particular geographic areas. Under the bill, contractors must determine within 60 days whether a coverage request is complete or incomplete, and must issue a final decision on complete requests within one year. The legislation also establishes a formal public review process for new or substantially revised coverage determinations, requiring contractors to publish draft decisions, hold public meetings with expert panels, accept public comments for at least 30 days, and provide responses to all comments before finalizing coverage decisions. Additionally, the bill creates a mechanism allowing interested parties—including Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups—to request that the Secretary review final reconsideration decisions to ensure they are based on appropriate evidence and do not conflict with existing rules or regulations. The bill's requirements take effect 90 days after enactment, meaning the first coverage requests under the new timelines would be received approximately one year after the law is signed.
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