S 521
Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill temporarily changes the rules for hospitals to qualify as critical access hospitals (CAHs) in rural areas. It allows hospitals currently involved in a demonstration program designed to test new payment models for small rural hospitals to also be designated as CAHs, even if they don’t meet the usual distance requirements from other hospitals. This aims to support the financial stability of these hospitals by providing them with special Medicare payments. The changes are set to last for one year.
Key provisions
- Allows hospitals in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program to qualify as CAHs.
- Waives the distance requirement (35 miles) for certain hospitals to become CAHs.
- The waiver applies for one year.
- The bill amends the Social Security Act to implement these changes.
- Specifically targets hospitals participating in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program.
- Changes the definition of a rural community hospital for Medicare purposes.
- Addresses distance requirements for CAH designation.
- Modifies the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.
Who is affected
- Rural hospitals
- Medicare
- Hospitals participating in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program
- Patients in rural areas
Notable changes
- Temporarily relaxes distance requirements for CAH designation.
- Extends eligibility for CAH status to hospitals in the demonstration program.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 521
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals.
This Act may be cited as the Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025
.
in subclause (I), by striking or
at the end;
in subclause (II), by adding or
at the end; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
is notand all that follows through the period and inserting
is not a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act)..