Ensuring Access to Essential Providers Act of 2025

Requires Medicare Advantage plans to include “essential community providers” (ECPs) in their provider networks, to make good‑faith efforts to contract with them, and to ensure network access for low‑income, rural, and health‑shortage area residents. The bill defines which providers count as ECPs, sets payment rules for Federally Qualified Health Centers, and directs plans to explain any failure to meet the ECP standard when filing plan information; the Secretary can deny plan approval if the explanation is inadequate.

Plans that cannot meet the ECP inclusion and access expectations must document why, and federal reviewers may withhold approval. The change aims to expand access to safety‑net providers for Medicare Advantage enrollees and strengthen networks’ obligations to serve underserved communities.