The LTCH Access and Stability Act
Bill: H.R.8580 | Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. (D-AL)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
The LTCH Access and Stability Act
This bill waives the Medicare site-neutral payment rate for inpatient services at long-term care hospitals for an additional 12 months after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must report on the effects of this waiver on hospital admissions and overall access to services, among other information.

To amend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to 
    provide for a 12-month extension of the Medicare long-term care 
         hospital waiver of the site-neutral IPPS payment rate.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``The LTCH Access and Stability Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE LONG-TERM CARE HOSPITAL WAIVER OF SITE-
              NEUTRAL IPPS PAYMENT RATE.

    (a) In General.--Section 3711 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 
Economic Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww note) is amended--
            (1) in the section header, by striking ``during emergency 
        period''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Twelve-Month Continued Application of Waiver of Site-Neutral 
IPPS Payment Rate.--With respect to inpatient hospital services 
furnished by a long-term care hospital described in section 
1886(d)(1)(B)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395ww(d)(1)(B)(iv)) during the 12-month period beginning on the last 
day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)), the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall continue to waive subparagraph (A)(i) of section 
1886(m)(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(m)(6)), relating to the 
application of the site-neutral payment rate (and payment shall be made 
to a long-term care hospital without regard to such section) for a 
discharge, if the admission occurs during such 12-month period.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
submit to Congress a report on the impact of the waiver of section 
1886(m)(6)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395ww(m)(6)(A)(i)), relating to the application of the site-neutral 
payment rate, during the emergency period described in section 
1135(g)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)) and the 12-month 
period following such period pursuant to section 3711(c) of the 
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww 
note), as added by subsection (a). The report shall--
            (1) include--
                    (A) information on the access of Medicare 
                beneficiaries (including those enrolled under part C of 
                title XVIII of the Social Security Act) to long term 
                care hospitals;
                    (B) any noticeable trends in admissions to long 
                term care hospitals; and
                    (C) data related to the financial status and 
                facility closures of long term care hospitals during 
                the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021; and
            (2) assess the role of post-acute care facilities, 
        including long-term care hospitals, in maintaining Medicare 
        beneficiary access to services during the COVID-19 pandemic and 
        estimate the effect that site-neutral payment policies may have 
        on beneficiary access during future pandemic responses.
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