HR 3778
PEAKS Act
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Bill overview
The PEAKS Act amends the Social Security Act to adjust the reimbursement rates for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals. Specifically, it increases the distance considered for determining travel time to these hospitals, particularly in mountainous or rural areas with limited road access. The bill also provides a mechanism for critical access hospitals that previously met distance requirements to be treated as if they meet a 15-mile distance requirement for new facilities.
Key provisions
- Updates the fee schedule for ambulance services from critical access hospitals.
- Increases the distance considered for travel time to critical access hospitals to 15 miles in mountainous terrain or areas with secondary roads.
- Provides a provision for critical access hospitals meeting previous distance requirements to be treated as meeting a 15-mile distance for new facilities.
- Requires the Secretary to establish regulations for implementing the changes regarding distance requirements.
Who is affected
- Critical Access Hospitals
- Ambulance Services Providers
- Patients in rural and mountainous areas
- Medicare beneficiaries
Notable changes
- Changes the reimbursement formula for ambulance services.
- Establishes a new distance standard for critical access hospitals in specific geographic areas.
- Creates a retroactive benefit for certain critical access hospitals.
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 3778
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals.
This Act may be cited as the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act PEAKS Act
or the
.
Section 1834(l)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(8)) is amended in the flush left text 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 35-mile drive
.
Section 1820(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this paragraph.