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The bill expands accreditation pathways to increase choice and speed availability of specialized Medicare Advantage plans, but it raises the risk of inconsistent standards that could reduce beneficiary protections and adds oversight burdens for government agencies.
Medicare beneficiaries (including seniors, retirees, and people with disabilities) will have access to more accredited specialized Medicare Advantage (MA) plan options beginning in 2026 because additional private accrediting organizations can accredit plans.
Specialized MA plans and issuers may be able to use streamlined or alternative accreditation pathways, potentially speeding the availability of new plans and encouraging innovation in services for people with complex needs.
Medicare beneficiaries (including people with disabilities) could experience inconsistent or reduced plan quality and weakened protections if some new private accreditors apply less stringent or variable standards.
Broadening private accreditor authority may increase administrative burden on HHS and related state/local systems to review multiple accreditor applications, which could complicate oversight and slow enforcement or corrective actions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 8, 2026 by Jodey Cook Arrington · Last progress January 8, 2026
Allows Medicare Advantage Specialized Plans for Special Needs (SNPs) to be accredited by private accrediting organizations that have an approved application under the Medicare Advantage rules, beginning with the 2026 plan year, if the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines it appropriate. A separate short-title provision is included but creates no program changes or funding.