Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-538
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Introduced: 2025-01-16
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health personnel

Hospital care

Medicare

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of </strong><strong>2025</strong></p><p>This bill repeals the 96-hour physician-certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under Medicare. Under current law, as a condition for Medicare payment for such services, a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 538 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. Sewell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025 . 2. Removing Medicare 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (a) In general Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6), by adding and at the end; (2) in paragraph (7), at the end of subparagraph (E), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and (3) by striking paragraph (8). (b) Application The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.