CRITICAL Act
Sponsored By: Senator Dan Sullivan
Introduced
Summary
Creates targeted 105% Medicare rates for Critical Access Hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. The CRITICAL Act would raise the Medicare payment rate from 101% to 105% for certain services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
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- Critical Access Hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii would be paid 105% instead of 101% of the applicable Medicare rate for inpatient and outpatient CAH services beginning January 1, 2026.
- Ambulance services furnished by those CAHs or entities they own and operate would receive 105% instead of 101% of the applicable Medicare rate for services on or after January 1, 2026.
- Skilled nursing facility services furnished under an agreement under section 1883(a)(3) by CAHs in noncontiguous states would be paid 105% instead of 101% for services on or after January 1, 2026.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher Medicare payments for remote hospitals
If enacted, this bill would raise certain Medicare payment multipliers for critical access hospitals in noncontiguous States to 105% instead of 101% for services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. The increase would apply to inpatient and outpatient critical access hospital services, ambulance services (including ambulances owned and operated by such hospitals), and certain skilled nursing services under an agreement under section 1883(a)(3). Hospitals would receive slightly higher Medicare reimbursements. Patients would not get direct cash payments, but local access to care could be supported.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Cosponsors
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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