SAFE through Medicare Act

Summary#

This measure would add a new Medicare benefit for "home resiliency services" for people who are medically at-risk during a climate or manmade disaster. It would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and take effect for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. The bill gives examples of covered items and services, such as heat pumps for people vulnerable to extreme temperatures, solar batteries for people who rely on electrical medical equipment (including home mechanical ventilators), and energy-efficient cold storage for heat-sensitive medical supplies.

The Secretary must set up a process, in consultation with the Directors of NIH and CMS and the NOAA Administrator, to decide who is medically at-risk. That process must consider geography-specific climate risks and regional preparedness; a 20-year history or a 20-year forward-looking prediction of disaster or infrastructure failure; medical reliance on equipment, medicines, mobility aids, and supplies that are sensitive to extreme temperatures, air quality, flooding, or loss of power; and chronic conditions, disabilities, and comorbidities that increase vulnerability during disasters.

The bill also amends Medicare payment rules so that, for covered home resiliency services, Medicare would pay 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or an amount determined under a Secretary-established fee schedule.

What it means for you#

• If you are a Medicare enrollee and are determined to be medically at-risk during disasters, you could get covered items or services to keep medical equipment, medicines, or supplies safe or working during extreme weather or power outages.
• Coverage decisions would follow a process set by the Secretary with advice from NIH, CMS, and NOAA. Some people who rely on electricity or temperature-controlled storage for care could qualify.
• The benefit applies to services provided on or after January 1, 2027.

Expenses#

• The bill says Medicare must pay 100% of the lesser of the provider’s actual charge or the amount in a fee schedule for these services.
• No publicly available information on total cost estimates, budgetary impact, or funding offsets is included in the text.

Proponents' View#

• Sponsors listed: Maxwell Frost and Troy Carter.
• The bill’s title and text indicate its purpose is to provide survival aid for emergencies by covering medically necessary home resiliency services under Medicare.
• No publicly available information in the bill text about additional supporter statements or detailed arguments.

Opponents' View#

• No publicly available information on statements by opponents, opposition arguments, or formal objections in the bill text or provided metadata.