RESEARCH Act of 2020

To provide for a study by the National Academy of Medicine on ambulance diversions, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Research Empirical Solutions to End Ambulance Reversals from Closed Hospitals Act of 2020 RESEARCH Act of 2020 2. Study on ambulance diversions (a) Study The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Medicine under which the National Academy agrees to conduct a study on ambulance diversions, including— (1) whether the number of such diversions have increased over the last 10 years, including whether the number of such diversions have increased at the national, regional, State, and local level; (2) what steps, if any, have been taken to reduce the number of such diversions; (3) whether such diversions disproportionately impact medically underserved communities (as defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 295p (4) what actions the Federal Government should take— (A) to reduce the number of ambulance diversions; and (B) to improve the health and safety of patients affected by ambulance diversions. (b) Consultation The agreement under subsection (a) shall require the study under such agreement to be conducted in consultation with— (1) the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the Department of Health and Human Services; (2) the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (3) the Director of the Office of Emergency Care Research of the National Institutes of Health. (c) Report The agreement under subsection (a) shall provide for— (1) the submission to the congressional committees of jurisdiction, not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, of a report on the results of the study under such agreement; and (2) the inclusion in such report of recommendations on actions the Federal Government should take— (A) to mitigate the occurrence of ambulance diversions; and (B) to improve the health and safety of patients affected by ambulance diversions. (d) Definition In this section, the term ambulance diversion 3. Hospital reporting requirement (a) Reporting requirement A hospital shall report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case the hospital implements an ambulance diversion on or after January 1, 2021— (1) how long the diversion was in effect; (2) the reason for the diversion; and (3) the number of ambulance calls the hospital diverted while the diversion was in effect. (b) Enforcement (1) Hospitals Section 1886(d)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5) (M) (i) (I) In the case that the Secretary determines, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in the period beginning with 2021 and ending with 2024, that a hospital has complied with the provisions of section 3(a) of the RESEARCH Act of 2020 (II) For purposes of subclause (I), the percentage specified in this subclause is, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in— (aa) 2021 or 2022, 1 percent; or (bb) 2023 or 2024, 0.5 percent. (ii) (I) In the case that the Secretary determines, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in 2025 or a subsequent year, that a hospital has failed to report an ambulance diversion occurring during such quarter to the Secretary in accordance with section 3(a) of the RESEARCH Act of 2020 (II) For purposes of subclause (I), the percentage specified in this subclause is, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in— (aa) 2025, 1 percent; or (bb) 2026 or a subsequent year, 2 percent. (iii) In this subparagraph, the term ambulance diversion RESEARCH Act of 2020 . (2) Critical access hospitals Section 1814(l) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(l) (6) (A) (i) In the case that the Secretary determines, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in the period beginning with 2021 and ending with 2024, that a critical access hospital has complied with the provisions of section 3(a) of the RESEARCH Act of 2020 (ii) For purposes of clause (i), the percentage specified in this clause is, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in— (I) 2021 or 2022, 1 percent; or (II) 2023 or 2024, 0.5 percent. (B) (i) In the case that the Secretary determines, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in 2025 or a subsequent year, that a critical access hospital has failed to report an ambulance diversion occurring during such quarter to the Secretary in accordance with section 3(a) of the RESEARCH Act of 2020 (ii) For purposes of clause (i), the percentage specified in this clause is, with respect to a calendar quarter occurring in— (I) 2025, 1 percent; or (II) 2026 or a subsequent year, 2 percent. . (c) Definition In this section: (1) The term ambulance diversion (2) The term hospital 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(1)(B) 42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm) 42 U.S.C. 1392cc(j)

Summary: Research Empirical Solutions to End Ambulance Reversals from Closed Hospitals Act of 2020 or the RESEARCH Act of 2020 This bill requires certain reporting and research activities related to ambulance diversions (i.e., temporary closures of a hospital emergency department to incoming ambulances). Specifically, Medicare-participating hospitals that divert ambulances from their emergency departments must report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on (1) the length of the diversion, (2) the reason for the diversion, and (3) the number of ambulance calls turned away while the diversion was in effect. Hospitals that comply with the reporting requirements receive increased Medicare payments until 2024. Beginning in 2025, hospitals that fail to report receive reduced Medicare payments. In addition, the National Academy of Medicine must conduct a study and provide recommendations to mitigate the occurrence of ambulance diversions and improve the health and safety of patients affected by ambulance diversions.