[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8246 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 806
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8246
[Report No. 118-957]
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify the criteria
for designation of rural emergency hospitals.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 6, 2024
Mr. Arrington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
December 27, 2024
Additional sponsors: Ms. Tokuda and Mr. Rose
December 27, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 6,
2024]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify the criteria
for designation of rural emergency hospitals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Second Chances for Rural Hospitals
Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL UNDER THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1861(kkk) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``is enrolled under
section 1866(j)'' and inserting ``except in the case of a
facility described in paragraph (3)(B)'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly;
(C) by striking ``facility that as of'' and
inserting ``facility--
``(A) that as of''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) that--
``(i) during the period beginning January
1, 2014, and ending December 26, 2020--
``(I) was a critical access
hospital; or
``(II) was a subsection (d)
hospital (as defined in section
1886(d)(1)(B)) located in a county (or
equivalent unit of local government) in
a rural area (as defined in section
1886(d)(2)(D)); and
``(ii) as of the date of the enactment of
this subparagraph, had ceased operations.'';
and
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``An action
plan'' and inserting ``Except in the case of a facility
described in paragraph (3)(B), an action plan''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ``except
in the case of a facility described in paragraph
(3)(B),'' before ``the facility''.
(b) Amendments to Payment Rules.--Section 1834(x) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(x)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, except that, in the
case of a facility described in section 1861(kkk)(3)(B) that,
as of the date on which such facility submits an application
under section 1866(j) to enroll under this title as a rural
emergency hospital, is located less than 35 miles away from the
nearest hospital, critical access hospital, or rural emergency
hospital, such increase shall not apply'' before the period at
the end; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``(other than a
facility described in section 1861(kkk)(3)(B) that, as of the
date on which such facility submits an application under
section 1866(j) to enroll under this title as a rural emergency
hospital, is located less than 10 miles away from the nearest
hospital, critical access hospital, or rural emergency
hospital)'' after ``rural emergency hospital''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply beginning January 1, 2027.
Union Calendar No. 806
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8246
[Report No. 118-957]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify the criteria
for designation of rural emergency hospitals.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 27, 2024
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed