HR 8271
ICU Bed Act of 2026
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Bill overview
This bill, the ICU Bed Act of 2026, aims to improve the coordination of intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability across the country. It requires hospitals to report real-time ICU bed data to the Medicare program as a condition of participation. The bill also establishes a system for hospitals within regions to share information and strategies for patient transfers, particularly during public health emergencies.
Key provisions
- Hospitals must report real-time ICU bed availability to Medicare.
- The reporting requirement begins one year after the bill’s enactment.
- Hospitals must participate in a shared data reporting system.
- Hospitals must develop a strategy for transferring patients between facilities.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish regional groupings for hospitals.
- The bill expands funding for hospital preparedness activities, including patient transfer strategies.
- Funding for hospital preparedness is increased through 2031.
Who is affected
- Hospitals
- Critical Access Hospitals
- Rural Emergency Hospitals
- Medicare beneficiaries
- Healthcare providers
Notable changes
- Requires hospitals to report real-time ICU bed data as a condition of Medicare participation.
- Establishes a system for regional data sharing and patient transfer strategies.
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8271
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require that hospitals report intensive care unit bed availability in real time as a condition of participation under the Medicare program.
This Act may be cited as the Improving Care Utilization through Bed Exchange and Data Sharing Act of 2026 ICU Bed Act of 2026
or the
.
in subsection (a)(1)—
in subparagraph (X), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (Y), by striking the period at the end and inserting , and
; and
by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the following new subparagraph:
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(Z), the real-time intensive care unit bed availability requirements described in this subsection are, with respect to a hospital, critical access hospital, or rural emergency hospital, that such hospital—
participate in a shared data reporting system that provides information in real time regarding the number of intensive care unit beds available at such hospital to each hospital, critical access hospital, and rural emergency hospital participating under this title that is located in the same region established by the Secretary under paragraph (2) as such hospital; and
maintain a shared strategy with each such hospital located in such region to efficiently transfer patients between such hospitals in the case that such a hospital reaches or nears intensive care unit bed capacity.
the geography and population of a region; and
the time it takes to travel between such hospitals in a region.
in subsection (c), by inserting , including for activities to prepare for the efficient transfer of patients between hospitals and other health care facilities to prevent overcapacity at such facilities during a public health emergency, and
before with respect to
; and
in subsection (j)(1), by inserting and each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
after through 2023
.