Grant states the authority to enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage plan requirements.

introduced the Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act of 2026, or the “PARTNERS Act of 2026,” legislation to grant states the ability to enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage (MA) plan requirements

Downing announced legislation to let states enforce existing Medicare Advantage requirements and coordinate with federal regulators.

DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS | Representative Troy Downing
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

Full Title To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow States to enforce Medicare Advantage plan requirements.

Downing introduced H.R. 8726, which would amend Medicare law to allow states to enforce Medicare Advantage plan requirements.

H.R. 8726 (IH) - Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act of 2026 - BILLS-119hr8726ih | Content Details | GovInfo
primary · official_post · model gpt-5.5

DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

Introduced the PARTNERS Act to let states enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage requirements.

Press Releases | Representative Troy Downing
secondary · other · model gpt-5.4-mini

“Today, Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02) introduced the Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act of 2026, or the ‘PARTNERS Act of 2026,’ legislation to grant states the ability to enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage (MA) plan requirements.”

Downing introduced the PARTNERS Act on May 11, 2026, expressly aiming to grant states authority to enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage requirements. This is concrete legislative action, but the source shows introduction only, not enactment or committee movement.

unresolved same_term A for effort

DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS | Representative Troy Downing
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 97%

“The PARTNERS Act would create a parallel state enforcement track allowing states to require MA organizations operating within their borders to comply with existing federal MA requirements.”

The office’s own description indicates the claim is about granting states enforcement power over existing federal MA rules. It confirms the proposal’s substance, but not delivery.

unresolved same_term

DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS | Representative Troy Downing
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%

“Importantly, the legislation does not create any new standards or mandates for Medicare Advantage plans. Instead, it grants enforcement tools to states and strengthens coordination between federal and state regulators.”

This clarifies the bill’s mechanism and shows the member took a serious legislative step. Still, there is no evidence of passage, so the promise remains unresolved.

unresolved same_term A for effort

DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS | Representative Troy Downing
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 94%

The homepage lists “DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS” among the latest news items, dated May 11, 2026.

The office continued to publicly promote the introduction as current legislative activity, suggesting the effort was active during the lookback window. This still does not show completion.

unresolved same_term

Representative Troy Downing |
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 82%

The bill text for H.R. 8726 is titled to amend Section 1856(b)(3) of the Social Security Act to clarify that states may independently enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage requirements.

GovInfo provides official introduced bill text, corroborating the member office’s description of the legislation. Introduction alone means no final delivery is shown.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 8726 (Introduced in House) | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 96%

CMS states that Medicare Advantage plan applications and related guidance are governed by federal regulatory requirements, including network adequacy and other standards under 42 CFR 422.116.

CMS confirms federal Medicare Advantage requirements already exist and are administered at the federal level. This supports the underlying policy context, but it does not show that Downing’s bill was enacted or that states received enforcement authority.

unresolved same_term

Medicare Advantage Applications | CMS
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 71%

CMS says it “has the authority to take enforcement or contract actions when CMS determines that a Medicare Plan Sponsor” violates requirements, and the page lists enforcement actions through 2026-05-01.

CMS’s enforcement page indicates federal enforcement authority remains in place as of the lookback window. That cuts against any claim that state enforcement authority has already been granted and confirms the issue is still under federal control.

never same_term

Part C and Part D Enforcement Actions | CMS
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 83%