Rural Ambulance Reimbursement Fairness Act

Bill: 116-hr-8218
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gianforte, Greg [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2020-09-11
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Medicare

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-11
text: 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Rural Ambulance Reimbursement Fairness Act</b></p> <p>This bill applies a higher payment rate for ambulance services under Medicare that are provided by certain critical access hospitals (CAHs) or CAH-owned entities in mountainous terrain or in areas with only secondary roads.</p> <p>Currently, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services must pay 101% of the reasonable costs incurred for ambulance services provided by a CAH or by a CAH-owned entity if the CAH or entity is the only provider or supplier of ambulance services within a 35-mile drive of such CAH. The bill applies this payment rate to services provided by a CAH or entity that is the only provider or supplier of ambulance services within a 15-mile drive of such CAH in mountainous terrain or an area with only secondary roads. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8218 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 11, 2020 Mr. Gianforte 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 provide for increased Medicare payment for certain rural providers of ambulance services.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Ambulance Reimbursement Fairness Act . 2. Medicare payment for certain rural providers of ambulance services (a) In general Paragraph (8) of section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(l) ) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (B), by inserting (or, in the case of mountainous terrain or in areas with only secondary roads available, a 15-mile drive) after within a 35-mile drive . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to ambulance services furnished on or after January 1, 2021.