Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Smith (NE)
Introduced
Summary
Eliminates the 96-hour physician certification for inpatient Critical Access Hospital (CAH) services under Medicare. It limits the change to inpatient CAH services and takes effect for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
Show full summary
- Critical Access Hospitals: Would no longer be subject to the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient services under section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act.
- Physicians and clinicians: Would not need to provide the 96-hour inpatient certification for patients in CAHs for services furnished on or after Jan 1, 2026.
- Medicare beneficiaries: Inpatient CAH services furnished on or after Jan 1, 2026 would no longer be tied to that specific physician certification rule.
- Federal program rules: The bill adds no new programs, funding, or benefit structures and leaves care provided before 2026 governed by existing law.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicare: 96-hour rule would end at Critical Access Hospitals
This bill would remove Medicare’s 96-hour physician certification for inpatient stays at Critical Access Hospitals. It would apply to care given on or after January 1, 2026. If enacted, you and your doctor would face fewer paperwork steps for these rural hospital stays. It would not change rules for other hospitals or other Medicare services.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smith (NE)
NE • R
Cosponsors
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Bergman
MI • R
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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