Rural ER Access Act
Sponsored By: Representative Green (TN)
Introduced
Summary
Eliminates the 35-mile distance test for off-campus facilities seeking Medicare provider-based status. The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise 42 C.F.R. § 413.65(e)(3)(i) within 60 days to remove the rule that an off-campus site must be within 35 miles of a hospital or critical access hospital campus to qualify for provider-based status.
Show full summary
- Off-campus providers and hospitals: Facilities located more than 35 miles from a hospital or critical access hospital could seek provider-based status and be treated as hospital outpatient departments for Medicare payment.
- Rural patients and families: Could see more local emergency options if off-campus ERs outside the 35-mile zone become eligible for hospital payment treatment.
- Medicare administrators: The change removes the distance-based eligibility test and shifts how officials determine which off-campus sites qualify as provider-based.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More Medicare access for rural clinics
This bill would remove the Medicare rule that off-campus clinics must be within 35 miles of a hospital to be provider-based. The HHS Secretary would have 60 days after enactment to revise the regulation. If enacted, more rural clinics could seek hospital billing and local care options might become easier to access.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Green (TN)
TN • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov