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H.R. 9851 119th Congress House

Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require providers of services to provide patients access to clergy.

Introduced: July 22, 2026 Introduced by: Mike Flood Republican · Nebraska See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 22, 2026
Introduced in House
Jul 22, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
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What's happening now July 22, 2026

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026 or the PASTOR Act of 2026

This bill requires, as a condition of Medicare participation, health care providers to allow a clergy member access to a patient upon the patient's designation and request.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 9851: Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9851/
MLA
"H.R. 9851: Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9851/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 9851, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9851/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 9851: Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion Act of 2026](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9851/)
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