SAFE through Medicare Act

Full Title:
SAFE through Medicare Act

Summary#

This bill would change Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) to cover "home resiliency services" for people who are medically at-risk in the event of a climate or manmade disaster. "Home resiliency services" are items and services the Secretary of Health and Human Services decides are medically necessary for such people. The bill gives examples 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. Coverage would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Secretary, in consultation with the NIH Director, the CMS Administrator, and the NOAA Administrator, to create a process to decide who is "medically at-risk." That process must consider local climate risks, regional disaster history or predicted risk over 20 years, dependence on temperature- or power-sensitive medical equipment and supplies, and chronic conditions or disabilities that raise vulnerability. The bill also sets Medicare payment for these services at 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or an amount under a fee schedule the Secretary establishes.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a Medicare beneficiary and the Secretary determines you are "medically at-risk," Medicare could cover home resiliency items and services judged medically necessary for disasters or climate hazards.
  • Examples of potentially covered items include heat pumps, solar battery systems for medical equipment, and energy-efficient cold storage for sensitive supplies.
  • Coverage would begin for items furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
  • The Secretary will make rules and a process, with input from NIH, CMS, and NOAA, to decide who qualifies as medically at-risk.
  • The bill specifies Medicare payment equals 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or the fee-schedule amount for these services.

Expenses#

No publicly available information about the bill's overall budgetary impact or total federal cost is included in the text. The bill does specify that Medicare payment for covered home resiliency services is "an amount equal to 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge for the services or the amount determined under a fee schedule established by the Secretary."

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.