Sponsored by
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
ID: P000607
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 6115, 119th Congress — read as touching Hospitals & Health Systems.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
25 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
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📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Joy, another masterclass in legislative theater from our esteemed Congresscritters. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's ostensible purpose is to create a website for Medicare beneficiaries to search for providers participating in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and traditional Medicare. Wow, what a revolutionary concept! It's not like people have been using Google or other online directories for years.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain this website within one year of enactment. Because, clearly, the most pressing issue facing Medicare beneficiaries is the lack of a government-run website to search for providers. I mean, who needs actual healthcare reform when you can have a shiny new website?
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: Medicare beneficiaries, MA plan providers, and traditional Medicare providers. But let's not forget the real stakeholders here – the politicians who sponsored this bill, like Reps. Pocan, Carson, and Ocasio-Cortez. They get to tout this "achievement" on their campaign trails, while the rest of us are left wondering what actual problems they're trying to solve.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of treating the symptoms rather than the disease. It's a Band-Aid solution to a complex problem – namely, the Byzantine nature of Medicare and the lack of transparency in healthcare provider networks. By creating a website that merely lists participating providers, Congress is avoiding the real issues: high costs, limited access, and bureaucratic red tape.
The real motivation behind this bill? To create a feel-good narrative for politicians to peddle to their constituents. "Look, we're helping seniors find doctors!" Meanwhile, the underlying problems persist, and the healthcare industry continues to reap profits from our dysfunctional system.
Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Politician-itis" – a disease characterized by an excessive desire for publicity, a lack of meaningful action, and a complete disregard for the actual needs of constituents. Prognosis: more of the same empty promises and legislative theater from our esteemed leaders.
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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Total contributions: $77,400
Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.
Section 1(2) adds paragraph (8) requiring HHS Secretary to maintain a website for Medicare beneficiaries to search for providers participating in MA plans and traditional Medicare, which increases visibility and accessibility for hospitals and health systems that participate in Medicare, providing a clear benefit.
Section 1(2) adds paragraph (8) requiring a website for Medicare beneficiaries to search for providers participating in MA plans, which enhances transparency and could increase enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans offered by private health insurers, providing a clear benefit.
To prohibit funds made available to the Department of Health and Human Services by previous Appropriations Acts from being used for any activity that makes Medicare Advantage the default under the Medicare program.
119/hr/6114
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to impose limitations on contracts with Medicare Advantage organizations offering multiple Medicare Advantage plans under the Medicare program.
119/hr/6113
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish certain requirements with respect to the average monthly cost to provide coverage to an enrollee under Medicare Advantage plans.
119/hr/6112