Committee Markup of Eight Bills and Views and Estimates Letter to the Committee on the Budget

On May 21, 2026, the Ways and Means Committee Republicans conducted a markup session to consider eight bills focused on expanding healthcare access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Key procurement-related discussions included legislation to allow Medicare reimbursement for pharmacists providing testing and treatment for common respiratory illnesses, stabilize Medicare physician payment systems, improve home dialysis access, and crack down on fraud in hospice care and durable medical equipment (DME) programs. The committee also addressed fraud recovery related to COVID-era unemployment benefits and reforms to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to enhance accountability and reduce improper payments. Several amendments were proposed and voted on, including measures to strengthen anti-fraud provisions and oversight, though some were rejected. The committee also debated the broader issue of fraud and political controversies involving the Trump administration, with some members calling for increased oversight. Ultimately, the committee favorably reported multiple bills to the House and adopted the committee's budget views and estimates for fiscal year 2027, authorizing staff to make technical and conforming changes.