Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2025

# Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would require Medicare's Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new payment system for blood transfusions given to hospice patients. Currently, transfusions are included in the flat daily payment that Medicare gives hospice providers. Under this bill, transfusions would be paid separately, potentially making them more accessible since providers wouldn't have to absorb the full cost from their standard hospice payment. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects hospice patients enrolled in Medicare, hospice care providers, and hospitals. It could influence how end-of-life care is delivered by changing the financial incentives around blood transfusions for dying patients.

The test program would compare outcomes between patients receiving transfusions under the new payment system and those under the current system. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee (S. 1936 in the Senate), sponsored by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada). It has not yet been voted on by either chamber of Congress. The bill focuses on studying the new payment model rather than immediately changing policy, meaning any changes would be gradual and evaluated before broader implementation.