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H.R. 8254: BETTER Kidney Care Act

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H.R. 8254: BETTER Kidney Care Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-09-15 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

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Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-09-15 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

BETTER Kidney Care Act

Plain summary

Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients Kidney Care Act or the BETTER Kidney Care Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Under the program, renal dialysis facilities, kidney disease specialists, physician practices, and other health care practitioners may form an organization that partners with certain health care entities to provide integrated care to beneficiaries with ESRD. Such care must include all covered Medicare benefits as well as transition services for transplantations, palliative care, and hospice. Each organization must have a minimum number or percentage of participating beneficiaries (350 or 60% of beneficiaries served at the organization's facilities) and must also comply with certain fiscal, governance, and quality of care requirements. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study certain data that is reported to the CMS regarding pediatric dialysis care, as well as the effects of race-based corrections to a specified kidney function test on referrals of ESRD patients for transplant evaluations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

BETTER Kidney Care Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · 88 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jason Smith (R-MO), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Darren Soto (D-FL), Grace Meng (D-NY), Josh Harder (D-CA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Mike Bost (R-IL), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Andy Barr (R-KY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Carol D. Miller (R-WV), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Tom Cole (R-OK), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Michael Guest (R-MS) and 28 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr8254 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116