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Bill

HR 8260

To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of certain cardiovascular tests without cost sharing under group health plans, group and individual health insurance coverage, and the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

119th Congress Introduced by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The bill requires certain cardiovascular tests for screening to be covered with no patient cost sharing across major private and public health plans.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8260

Summary of HR 8260 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

HR 8260 seeks to ensure coverage of certain cardiovascular screening tests and related activities without cost sharing under:
- Group health plans and group health insurance coverage
- Individual health insurance coverage
- Medicare and Medicaid programs

In short, the bill aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers and beneficiaries seeking specified cardiovascular tests, aligning coverage with preventive care and early detection goals.

Key provisions and changes

  • Coverage expansion without cost sharing: The bill requires that certain cardiovascular tests be covered with no patient cost sharing (e.g., no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance) when delivered under:

    • Employer-sponsored group health plans
    • Group health insurance coverage
    • Individual health insurance plans
    • Medicare and Medicaid programs

  • Tests covered (anticipated scope based on typical cardiovascular screening provisions; exact enumerated tests would be specified in the text of the bill):

    • Likely include non-invasive screening tools and services used to assess cardiovascular risk or detect heart conditions at an early stage
    • May cover associated counseling, interpretation, and follow-up services related to the tests

  • Applicability across plan types:

    • Federally administered programs (Medicare, Medicaid) will integrate the no-cost-sharing requirement for the specified tests
    • Private plans (employer-sponsored and individual market) will be required to remove patient cost sharing for the same set of tests

  • Administrative alignment: The bill would require insurers and health programs to apply the no-cost-sharing rule uniformly to the specified tests, potentially affecting plan design, formulary decisions for tests, and provider billing practices.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals and beneficiaries who are covered by:
    • Employer-sponsored group health plans
    • Group health insurance coverage
    • Individual health insurance plans
    • Medicare and Medicaid programs
  • Health providers and laboratories performing the listed cardiovascular tests, who would bill insurers or programs under the no-cost-sharing terms
  • Plan sponsors and issuers (employers, insurers, and Medicare/Medicaid administrators) responsible for administering coverage and cost-sharing rules

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referrals: The bill was introduced in the House and referred on 2026-04-14 to:
    • Committee on Energy and Commerce
    • Committee on Ways and Means
    • With the instruction that provisions fall within each committee’s jurisdiction be considered accordingly
  • Sponsors: Primary sponsor is unspecified in the provided text; co-sponsor listed as Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Notes and considerations

  • The summary above reflects the stated objective to remove cost-sharing for specified cardiovascular tests across major coverage pathways. The exact list of covered tests, any sunset or phase-in provisions, and the interaction with existing preventive service requirements (e.g., current USPSTF recommendations) would be clarified in the bill’s text.
  • As the bill moves through the committee process, it could undergo amendments that refine the tests covered, establish reporting requirements, or modify implementation timelines.

If you’d like, I can pull the bill’s full text to provide a more granular list of the covered tests and any numerical thresholds or effective dates.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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