September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To prohibit health insurance issuers and certain health care providers under Medicare from being under common ownership, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Patients Over Profit Act
or the POP Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on common ownership of health insurance issuers and certain health care providers under Medicare
(a) In general
It shall be unlawful for any person to both—
(1)
directly or indirectly own, operate, or control the whole or any part of an applicable provider or a management services organization that has a management services agreement with an applicable provider; and
(2)
directly or indirectly own, operate, or control the whole or any part of a health insurance issuer.
(b) Divestment
Any person in violation of subsection (a) shall divest either the applicable provider (or, if applicable, the management services organization) or the health insurance issuer of such person—
(1)
in the case of an applicable provider, management services organization, or health insurance issuer acquired on or before the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 2 years after such date of enactment; or
(2)
in the case of an applicable provider, management services organization, or health insurance issuer acquired after the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 1 year after the date of acquisition.
(c) Civil actions
(1) In general
When the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, or an Attorney General of a State has reason to believe that a person is in violation of subsection (a) or (b), such Inspector General, Assistant Attorney General, Federal Trade Commission, or Attorney General of a State may bring a civil action in an applicable district court of the United States for the relief described in paragraph (2).
(2) Injunctive and equitable relief
In any action described in paragraph (1), the applicable court, on a finding that a person is in violation of subsection (a) or (b), shall issue an order requiring such person—
(A)
to cease and desist from such violation, and divest either the applicable provider (or, if applicable, the management services organization) or the health insurance issuer of such person; and
(B)
to disgorge any revenue received from the provision of health care services during the period of such violation.
(3) Deposit and distribution
Any revenue disgorged pursuant to an action under this subsection for a violation of subsection (a) or (b) shall be deposited into a fund created by the Federal Trade Commission and distributed by the Federal Trade Commission to be put to use in the interest of serving the health care needs of the harmed community. Receipt of any funds under this paragraph shall not alter or diminish the rights of an individual to bring an action or recover any amount as otherwise authorized by law.
(d) FTC review
(1) Reporting required
Any divestment of an applicable provider, management services organization, or health insurance issuer required under subsection (b) shall be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a) without respect to the thresholds under subsection (a)(2) of that section.
(2) Tolling of divestment period during review
The divestment period under subsection (b) shall be tolled during the pendency of any waiting period required under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a).
(3) Review of effect of divestiture
With respect to each divestiture undertaken pursuant to subsection (b), in addition to any applicable review under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a), the Federal Trade Commission and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice shall review the effect on competition, financial viability, and the public interest—
(A)
of the divestiture; and
(B)
of the subsequent acquisition of the applicable provider (or, if applicable, the management services organization) or the health insurance issuer of such person by the acquiring person.
(e) Rulemaking authority
The Federal Trade Commission shall promulgate rules to carry out this section. Such rules shall not diminish any obligation under this section.
(f) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade Commission, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Attorney General of a State under any other provision of law.
(g) Enforcement under Medicare Advantage and Medicare part D
(1) Medicare Advantage
Section 1857 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–27) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(j) Prohibition on common ownership of MA organizations and applicable providers
(1) In general
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the Secretary may not contract with, or provide payment under this part to, a Medicare Advantage organization with respect to offering an MA plan or MA–PD plan under this part if the organization—
(A)
directly or indirectly owns, operates, or controls the whole or any part of an applicable provider or a management services organization that has a management services agreement with an applicable provider; or
(B)
is directly or indirectly owned, operated, or controlled in whole or part by a person who also directly or indirectly owns, operates, or controls the whole or any part of an applicable provider or a management services organization that has a management services agreement with an applicable provider.
(2) Certification
Each Medicare Advantage organization shall furnish to the Secretary (in a form and manner, and at a time, specified by the Secretary) a certification of compliance with this subsection, as well as such information as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this subsection.
(3) False claims submitted by entities in violation of prohibition on common ownership
Any claim for payment from an entity in violation of paragraph (1) constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of subchapter III of title 31, United States Code.
(4) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Applicable provider
(i) In general
Subject to clause (ii), the term applicable provider means any entity that receives payment for furnishing services covered under part B or under a Medicare Advantage plan under part C.
(ii) Exclusions
Such term does not include—
(I)
a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e)), a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1)), or a rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(2));
(II)
a supplier of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies; or
(III)
a pharmacy.
(B) Management services agreement
The term management services agreement means a contract between a management services organization and an applicable provider for management or administrative services relating to, supporting, or facilitating the provision of health care services.
(C) Management services organization
The term management services organization means any organization or entity that contracts with an applicable provider to perform management or administrative services relating to, supporting, or facilitating the provision of health care services.
(2) Medicare part D
Section 1860D–12(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–112(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(G) Prohibition on common ownership
Section 1857(j).
(h) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Applicable provider
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term applicable provider means any entity that receives payment for furnishing services covered under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.) or under a Medicare Advantage plan under part C of such title (42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq.).
(B) Exclusions
Such term does not include—
(i)
a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(e))), a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)(1))), or a rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(2));
(ii)
a supplier of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies; or
(iii)
a pharmacy.
(2) Health insurance issuer
The term health insurance issuer has the meaning given that term in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91).
(3) Management services agreement
The term management services agreement means a contract between a management services organization and an applicable provider for management or administrative services relating to, supporting, or facilitating the provision of health care services.
(4) Management services organization
The term management services organization means any organization or entity that contracts with an applicable provider to perform management or administrative services relating to, supporting, or facilitating the provision of health care services.
(5) Person
The term person has the meaning given the term in section 8 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 7).