Strengthen and modernize Medicare's hospice benefit to expand access to essential services and caregiver support, including home respite care and coverage for certain palliative treatments.

This bill strengthens and enhances Medicare’s hospice benefit so it provides the critical care patients and their families need – like respite care for caregivers and coverage of palliative treatments like dialysis and radiation – all while protecting the program from those trying to exploit it.

Sanchez says the bill will modernize hospice coverage and add services that better support patients and caregivers.

Sánchez, Warner introduce bill to strengthen hospice care for patients, guard against fraud | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

GovInfo records that Ms. Sánchez introduced H.R. 7966 and that it was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill title and summary state it would amend title XVIII to ensure the integrity of hospice care furnished under Medicare.

This is a concrete legislative introduction aimed at modernizing the Medicare hospice benefit, but it is only a first-step effort rather than enacted change.

partial same_term A for effort

H.R. 7966 (IH) - Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 2026 | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 96%

Sánchez said the Hospice CARE Act would "strengthen and enhance Medicare's hospice benefit" by adding caregiver respite care and coverage of palliative treatments such as dialysis and radiation, while also expanding access to essential services and caregiver support.

Official office statement confirms the promise-aligned policy goals, but it describes a proposal introduction, not a delivered policy change.

partial same_term A for effort

Sánchez, Warner introduce bill to strengthen hospice care for patients, guard against fraud | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 94%

The Ways and Means Committee scheduled an April 21, 2026 hearing on Medicare fraud with witnesses including the president and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association. The hearing record shows continued congressional attention to hospice fraud, but no enacted hospice-benefit expansion or committee advancement of the Sánchez bill in the lookback window.

This is relevant follow-through on the underlying problem, but it does not show the promise was delivered; it leaves the commitment unresolved.

unresolved same_term A for effort

Full Committee Hearing on Protecting Patients and Taxpayers: Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud | U.S. House Committee Repository
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 74%