H.R. 5554 – Stand Strong for Medicare Act of 2025

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Updated November 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM UTC

The Stand Strong for Medicare Act of 2025 amends the Social Security Act to let Medicare pay for certain fall‑prevention equipment, like grab bars and shower chairs, for beneficiaries. It defines what counts as a fall‑prevention item, allows coverage without a physician’s order, and protects the payments from budget sequestration cuts. The changes become effective 60 days after the law is passed.

Key Provisions

Adds “fall prevention items” (such as grab bars, non‑slip mats, shower chairs, bed rails, and other items the Secretary may specify) to the list of services and supplies Medicare can cover.
Defines “fall prevention items” in the statute and allows them to be covered even when they are not provided under a physician’s order.
Amends the Medicare exclusions to include a new subparagraph for fall prevention items, ensuring they are not automatically excluded.
Specifies that payments for these items cannot be reduced by any sequestration measures.
The new coverage rules take effect 60 days after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

September 23, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 23, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

September 23, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 23, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5554

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 23, 2025

Mr. Magaziner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for certain fall prevention items under the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stand Strong for Medicare Act of 2025.

2.

Providing coverage for certain fall prevention items under the Medicare program

(a)

In general

(1)

Coverage

Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (n)—

(i)

by striking and wheelchairs and inserting wheelchairs; and

(ii)

by inserting , and fall prevention items (as defined in subsection (nnn)) after may prescribe); and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(nnn)

Fall prevention items

The term fall prevention items includes grab bars, non-slip mats, shower chairs, bed rails, and such other items or categories of items as the Secretary may specify.

.

(2)

Exclusion modification

Section 1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(1)) is amended—

(A)

in subparagraph (O), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in subparagraph (P), by striking the semicolon and inserting , and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(Q)

in the case of fall prevention items (as defined in section 1861(nnn)), which are not furnished pursuant to an order of a physician or practitioner (as described in section 1842(b)(18)(C));

.

(b)

Exemption from sequestration

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, payments for fall prevention items (as defined in section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)) under the Medicare program shall not be subject to any reduction under a sequestration issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, or any other provision law.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.