Sponsors (24)
The bill strengthens transparency, participation, and predictability in HHS rulemaking—protecting stakeholders and reducing risk of arbitrary rules—but does so at the cost of likely slower rule implementation and modestly higher administrative expenses for governments and taxpayers.
Millions covered by HHS rules (e.g., Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries) and taxpayers get greater regulatory predictability because the bill reaffirms HHS’s long-standing use of APA notice-and-comment procedures.
States, localities, program providers, and other stakeholders gain formal opportunities to review and comment on HHS rule proposals, increasing transparency and stakeholder influence over regulations that affect them.
Individuals and organizations (including nonprofits and low-income people) are better protected from arbitrary or harmful HHS regulations by preserving open notice-and-comment rulemaking processes.
Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries could face delays in the implementation of health and social programs because emphasis on expanded procedural participation can slow HHS rulemaking.
Taxpayers and state governments may incur higher administrative costs if prioritizing broad stakeholder input makes HHS rule development more resource-intensive.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Records congressional findings supporting open notice-and-comment HHS rulemaking and urges opportunities for beneficiaries, states, and providers to comment on proposed rules.
Introduced May 1, 2025 by Elizabeth Pannill Fletcher · Last progress May 1, 2025
Declares congressional findings that public participation and open notice-and-comment rulemaking are vital for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Emphasizes that HHS has used Administrative Procedure Act notice-and-comment procedures for decades and that millions of Americans — including program beneficiaries, state and local governments, and human services providers — should have chances to comment on proposed HHS regulatory changes.