To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a definition of essential health system in statute and for other related purposes.
HR 7145 defines "essential health systems" as hospitals serving large numbers of Medicaid and low-income patients, specifically targeting non-Federal, nonprofit, or government-run hospitals that meet one of three criteria for at least two of the past three years (e.g., high Medicaid patient percentage, high uncompensated care, or top 16th percentile in state rankings for low-income care). The bill requires MACPAC to annually publish an "essential health system index" ranking qualifying hospitals nationally, by state, and within local areas, using data from Medicare reporting. Hospitals designated as essential health systems receive a five-year designation, renewable if they maintain eligibility. This framework aims to identify facilities providing critical community care for vulnerable populations through standardized metrics.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
Last action Jan 16, 2026
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Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 22 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Lori Trahan
DDemocratic
Co
Angie Craig
DDemocratic
Co
Ann Wagner
RRepublican
Co
Brittany Pettersen
DDemocratic
Co
Burgess Owens
RRepublican
Co
Darren Soto
DDemocratic
Co
David G. Valadao
RRepublican
Co
Emanuel Cleaver
DDemocratic
Co
Gabe Evans
RRepublican
Co
Gabe Vasquez
DDemocratic
Co
Gus M. Bilirakis
RRepublican
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