Summary: Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025 (S. 3439)

Overview

S. 3439, introduced in the Senate as the “Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025,” aims to expand outreach and education to Medicare beneficiaries and their family caregivers. The core goal is to simplify access to information about personal health data access for family caregivers through the Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE line, including a standardized process for authorizing caregiver access to a beneficiary’s information.

• Introduced: January 27, 2025 (Senate)
• Status: Introduced in the Senate; referred to the Committee on Finance (as of December 11, 2025 actions noted)
• Primary sponsor: Liz Krueger (with cosponsors John Liu and Maggie Hassan)

What the bill would change (Key provisions)

1. New outreach and education mandate (Section 1804(e))

   • The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services must conduct outreach and education to inform:
     • Medicare beneficiaries (both fee-for-service Part A/B and those enrolled in Part CMA) and individuals applying for Medicare benefits
     • Family caregivers
     • Providers, suppliers, and other specified entities
   • The purpose is to explain the option for a family caregiver to access a beneficiary’s personal health information via 1-800-MEDICARE, using a specified authorization form.

2. Family caregiver information access authorization (defined forms)

   • Establishes a process for beneficiaries to authorize a family caregiver to access their personal health information through 1-800-MEDICARE.
   • The authorization relies on the CMS-10106 form (or its successor) to grant access.

3. Comprehensive outreach activities (Section 1804(e)(2))

   • Activities include:
     • Education about the option to authorize access
     • Information for caregivers, providers, and suppliers
     • Best practices to prevent fraud, misrepresentation, and improper access
     • Information on existing Medicare fraud reporting mechanisms
     • Prominent, accessible dissemination via: notices, Medicare.gov, MA plan resources, social media, and other Secretary-approved channels
     • Display of the authorization form in notices and online

4. Fraud prevention and best practices (Section 1804(e)(4))

   • The Office of the Inspector General must publish best practices within one year of enactment to protect beneficiaries from fraud related to accessing personal health information.
   • Separate guidance may be created for beneficiaries, family caregivers, providers/suppliers, and other entities.

5. Feedback and accessibility (Sections 1804(e)(5)-(7))

   • Opportunities for family caregivers to provide feedback on access experiences and the outreach activities.
   • Outreach materials and forms must be available in non-English languages.
   • Coordination with state health insurance programs and aging services as practical.

Who is affected

• Medicare beneficiaries (both Original Medicare and those enrolled in Medicare Advantage)
• Family caregivers seeking access to a beneficiary’s personal health information
• Family caregivers’ networks, including providers, suppliers, and other entities involved in care
• 1-800-MEDICARE operators (via required training and resource provision)

Implementation and timeline

• Establishes new outreach/education activities and a caregiver information access mechanism
• Requires best practices on fraud protection within one year of enactment (Inspector General report to Congress)
• Materials must be multilingual and coordinated with state/aging programs as feasible
• Compliance and rollout would be overseen by the Secretary of HHS, with coordination across CMS and related offices

Notes

• This bill focuses on facilitating caregiver access to beneficiary information while emphasizing fraud protection and clear, accessible information channels.
• It does not appear to alter eligibility or payment structures for Medicare benefits but adds administrative and educational provisions to support caregiver involvement.