Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025
Sen. Tillis and Sen. Hassan Introduce the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill helps family members who take care of seniors by making it easier to get information from Medicare. It requires the government to teach seniors how to give a family caregiver permission to call the 1-800-MEDICARE hotline to discuss health records and insurance coverage.
- The plan requires the government to put clear instructions and authorization forms on the Medicare website and in the official "Medicare & You" handbook. This helps families avoid the frustration of being told they aren't allowed to talk to Medicare about a loved one's care.
- To keep seniors safe, the government would create new guides on how to prevent fraud. These guides would teach families how to protect private health information and how to report any suspicious activity or scams.
- This bill would apply to everyone on Medicare, including those with private Medicare Advantage plans. It also requires Medicare to provide these forms and information in multiple languages and to train phone operators on how to better help family caregivers.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Programs
This bill makes it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to authorize a family caregiver to call 1-800-MEDICARE and access their personal health information. It requires outreach through the Medicare website, the "Medicare & You" handbook, and multiple languages, so more of the 67 million people on Medicare will know this option exists. It doesn't create new benefits but removes an information barrier that frustrates many families trying to help aging loved ones navigate their coverage.
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesCarey, Tillis offer bipartisan, bicameral Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act
A bipartisan, bicameral bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Mike Carey and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis would improve coordination between caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries. The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act (H.R. 6735/S. 3439) provides for outreach to simplify access to information via 1-800-MEDICARE.
Jimmy, Rosalynn Carter groups bolster advocacy on mental health, caregivers
Nonprofit groups founded by former president Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter are expanding federal advocacy, lobbying for bipartisan bills including the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act to support family caregivers and address mental health coverage concerns.
Caregiver Tax Credit Could Pass in 2025 With Trump, GOP Support
Advocates for the elderly are hopeful that Congress may pass bipartisan legislation to support family caregivers in 2025. The report highlights a suite of bills, including those aimed at reducing informational burdens on families navigating Medicare and other federal benefits.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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