{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/downing-introduces-partners-act-grant-states-enforcement-authority-over", "DOWNING INTRODUCES PARTNERS ACT TO GRANT STATES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS", "2026-05-11", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Troy Downing", "D000634", "downing.house.gov", "downing", "https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02) introduced the Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act of 2026, or the \u201cPARTNERS Act of 2026,\u201d legislation to grant states the ability to enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage (MA) plan requirements.\n\nUnder current law, states are largely preempted from independently enforcing standards on Medicare Advantage plans, leaving federal regulators as the sole enforcement authority. The PARTNERS Act would create a parallel state enforcement track allowing states to require MA organizations operating within their borders to comply with existing federal MA requirements.\n\nImportantly, the legislation does not create any new standards or mandates for Medicare Advantage plans. Instead, it grants enforcement tools to states and strengthens coordination between federal and state regulators.\n\n\u201cStates should not be forced to sit on the sidelines when it comes to enforcing standards for Medicare Advantage plans,\u201d said Congressman Downing. \u201cThe PARTNERS Act grants commonsense enforcement authority to states while improving coordination with federal regulators, allowing states and CMS to work together through collaborative enforcement agreements. This bill is about accountability, consumer protection, and ensuring the rules already on the books are properly enforced.\u201d\n\nThe legislation also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate enforcement efforts with states where Medicare Advantage organizations are licensed or operate.\n\nBackground:\n\nCurrent law preempts states from enforcing their own standards on Medicare Advantage plans, even when those plans are sold and operated within their borders. The PARTNERS Act amends Section 1856(b)(3) of the Social Security Act to clarify that states may independently enforce existing federal Medicare Advantage requirements.\n\nThe legislation does not establish new Medicare Advantage standards. Instead, it empowers states to enforce the standards already established under federal law and encourages coordination between federal and state regulators.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/downing-introduces-partners-act-grant-states-enforcement-authority-over"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.138022169470787, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}