Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1708
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 1708: Rebuild America's Health Care Schools Act of 2025
Purpose
This bill aims to expand Medicare reimbursement for costs related to nursing and allied health education programs in hospitals. It seeks to support these programs by allowing a broader range of direct and indirect costs to be covered, helping to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
Key Provisions
- Expansion of Reimbursable Costs: Amends Section 1861(v)(1) of the Social Security Act to include all direct and indirect costs for nursing and allied health education programs as "reasonable costs" under Medicare. These programs must be licensed by state law or accredited by a national or regional professional organization.
- Direct costs: Expenses directly incurred by the hospital.
- Indirect costs: Expenses allocated from a "related entity" (e.g., another organization under common ownership or control with the hospital) or associated with training participants at the hospital or related entity.
- Definition of Related Entity: Includes entities connected to the hospital through shared ownership, control, sole corporate membership, or shared board members.
- Implementation Timeline: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must issue necessary rules within 120 days of enactment to allow health systems and hospital-based schools to provide clinical training and support.
- Protection Against Recoupment: Starting from enactment, HHS cannot recover or reduce Medicare payments (under Part A) for allowable costs in approved nursing or allied health programs reported on hospital cost reports.
- Refunds for Past Actions: If HHS recouped such costs in the 6 years before enactment, it must refund those amounts to the affected hospitals.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, Medicare's reimbursement for hospital costs (under title XVIII of the Social Security Act) was limited in how it treated indirect costs, especially those involving related entities outside the hospital itself. This bill broadens the definition of allowable costs, making more expenses reimbursable and preventing future audits or reductions for these education-related costs.
- It introduces a specific subparagraph (X) to the law, targeting nursing and allied health programs, which were not explicitly covered in this expanded way before.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS will need to update rules, process refunds (potentially costing millions in returned payments), and adjust Medicare payment systems, which could increase overall program spending.
- Citizens: May improve access to training for nurses and allied health professionals (e.g., medical technicians), potentially leading to a stronger healthcare workforce and better care in underserved areas. Hospitals could face less financial burden, indirectly benefiting patients through sustained education programs.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic Medicare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Hospitals and Health Systems: Primary beneficiaries, as they can recover more costs for education programs and avoid payment reductions.
- Nursing and Allied Health Education Programs: Gain financial support for training, including clinical rotations at related facilities.
- Medicare Program and Taxpayers: Could see higher expenditures due to expanded reimbursements and refunds.
- Healthcare Workforce (Nurses, Allied Health Professionals): Indirectly supported through better-funded training opportunities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens hospitals' ability to challenge past Medicare audits by mandating refunds, potentially leading to administrative reviews or disputes. Ensures compliance with state licensing and accreditation standards without altering broader Medicare cost principles.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the bill operates within Congress's authority over federal spending programs like Medicare.
- Political: Addresses healthcare workforce shortages, a bipartisan concern, by supporting education amid aging populations and post-pandemic needs. Could influence future budget debates on Medicare costs, emphasizing investment in domestic health training over other priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (4 pages)