Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act

Bill: 119-s-474
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2025-02-06
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Medicaid

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S796)

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act</strong></p><p>This bill establishes a minimum funding allotment for Medicaid disproportionate-share hospitals (DSHs). (DSHs are hospitals that receive additional payments under Medicaid for treating a large share of low-income patients.)</p><p>Specifically, the bill establishes a minimum allotment of $20 million per state for FY2025-FY2029, increased for inflation in subsequent years, despite any required reductions or other applicable funding calculations.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 474 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Schatz , Mr. Cramer , and Mr. Welch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a minimum Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotment for States.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act . 2. Minimum Medicaid DSH allotment Section 1923(f)(6) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396r–4(f)(6) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Minimum DSH allotment for fiscal years after 2024 (i) In general Notwithstanding the table set forth in paragraph (2) or the reductions required under paragraph (7), for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year, the DSH allotment for any State shall not be less than the minimum DSH allotment amount established for the fiscal year under clause (ii). (ii) Minimum DSH allotment amount The minimum DSH allotment amount established under this clause— (I) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, shall be equal to $20,000,000; and (II) for fiscal year 2030 and each succeeding fiscal year, shall be equal to the minimum DSH allotment amount established under this clause for the preceding fiscal year, subject to an increase for inflation as provided in paragraph (3)(A). .