CARE Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 3145

119th Congress

CARE Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Nov 6, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Susan Collins

R - ME

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

This bill requires Medicare to test a Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) model. The program would pay for treatment services when an ambulance is dispatched but no transport occurs, allowing paramedics to treat patients on-scene and connect them with telehealth services instead of transporting to emergency rooms.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7964)

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires Medicare to test a Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) model. The program would pay for treatment services when an ambulance is dispatched but no transport occurs, allowing paramedics to treat patients on-scene and connect them with telehealth services instead of transporting to emergency rooms.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires CMS Innovation Center to test alternative emergency response model within 2 years
Pays ambulance providers for on-scene treatment when no transport is needed
Allows telehealth services at the scene to count as an originating site
Payment rates will generally align with what would have been paid for transport
The 5-year pilot program includes a GAO report analyzing outcomes

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Medicare beneficiaries would gain access to appropriate emergency care without unnecessary hospital transports. Ambulance services would be reimbursed for providing on-scene care. Emergency rooms could see reduced overcrowding from non-transport cases. Rural areas with limited hospital access could particularly benefit from telehealth integration.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3145, 119th Congress (2025). "CARE Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3145