SCHNEIDER, MURPHY INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES

October 14, 2026
Press Release

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., (NC-03) introduced the bipartisan Access to Medical Supplies Act, which would exclude urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare’s Competitive Acquisition Program for five years to protect Medicare beneficiaries who rely on them.

“Everyone deserves access to the medical supplies that will improve their quality of life and improve their well-being. Unfortunately, the new rule from CMS making ostomy and urological medical supplies part of a competitive bidding program undermines this goal,” said Schneider. “These are highly specialized prosthetics, and a sweeping rule like this should never be put in place without patient, provider, and supplier feedback. I’m proud to work with my Ways and Means colleague Dr. Murphy to introduce the bipartisan Access to Medical Supplies Act to pause this rule and ensure patients continue to receive the medical supplies they need.” 

“Patients who rely on urological and ostomy supplies should not be forced to sacrifice the products that work best for them,” said Murphy. “As a physician, I know that every patient has different medical needs, and access to the right supplies can make a meaningful difference in their health and quality of life. This legislation will give patients, physicians, and policymakers time to evaluate competitive bidding and ensure that any future program protects access to the supplies patients need.”

The Access to Medical Supplies Act would:

  • Exclude urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare’s Competitive Acquisition Program for five years, from January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2032.
     
  • Establish a technical expert panel of patients, caregivers, clinicians, suppliers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to evaluate the impact of competitive bidding and recommend changes.
     
  • Establish a demonstration project to assess the impact of competitive bidding on patient access and health outcomes before broader implementation.
     

View the full bill text here.