Medicare pays primary care doctors more, cuts patient costs in half.

What it does

The bill sets up a new way to pay primary care doctors. Doctors get a monthly payment for each patient plus money for each visit. Medicare will spend $10 billion from 2027 to 2031 on these payments. Patients who pick a primary care doctor pay half as much for visits. The bill also creates a group to review how Medicare pays doctors.

Who it affects

Medicare patients who pick a primary care doctor pay less for visits. Primary care doctors get more steady money to hire staff and improve care.

One thing to notice

Patients only get the discount if they pick a primary care doctor. Patients who do not pick one do not get the cost cut.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Republicans.

• Aug 5, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Aug 5, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on Finance · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Words to know

• primary care doctor — A doctor who gives basic health care and coordinates other care.
• Medicare — A government health insurance program for people age 65 and older.
• monthly payment — Money paid each month for each patient a doctor treats.