To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify requirements for payment under the Medicare program for ambulance services furnished by critical access hospitals, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-3609
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
Introduced: 2015-09-24
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Hospital care

Licensing and registrations

Medicare

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2015-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to modify requirements for payment under the Medicare program for ambulance services furnished by critical access hospitals (CAHs), which are rural community hospitals that meet specified criteria and receive special payment.</p> <p>Under current law, ambulance services furnished either by a CAH or by an entity owned or operated by a CAH are paid at a rate of 101% of reasonable costs incurred in furnishing those services, as long as the CAH or entity is the only provider of ambulance services that is located within a 35-mile drive of the CAH. The bill maintains this requirement but further requires that the CAH or entity furnishing the ambulance services be licensed or otherwise authorized to furnish services in the state in which the CAH is located.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3609 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2015 Mr. Westerman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify requirements for payment under the Medicare program for ambulance services furnished by critical access hospitals, and for other purposes.

1. Modifying requirements for Medicare payment for ambulance services furnished by critical access hospitals Section 1834(l)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(8) ) is amended— (1) by inserting both before located ; and (2) by inserting and licensed or otherwise authorized to furnish services in the State in which such critical access hospital is located before the period at the end.