Rural Health Care Access Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 771
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-07T08:06:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 771: Rural Health Care Access Act of 2025
Purpose
This bill aims to improve healthcare access in rural areas by allowing states greater flexibility to designate certain facilities as critical access hospitals (CAHs) under Medicare. CAHs are small, rural hospitals that receive special payment protections from Medicare to help them stay financially viable and serve underserved communities.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Designation Criteria: The bill modifies Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act by removing specific subclauses that previously required CAH facilities to be located a certain distance (typically at least 35 miles) from another hospital or CAH. This eliminates mileage-based restrictions for state designations of rural facilities as CAHs.
- Handling of Prior Redesignations: It updates Section 1820(h)(3) to clarify that any previous redesignations of CAHs (made before the bill's enactment) remain unaffected.
- Effective Date: The changes apply to all new designations or redesignations of CAHs made on or after the date the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, states participating in the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program must adhere to strict mileage requirements when designating or redesigning facilities as CAHs, which can limit eligibility for rural hospitals near urban areas or other facilities.
- This bill removes those mileage limitations entirely for state-led designations, providing more leeway while preserving other CAH requirements (such as bed size limits and service scope). It does not alter federal oversight or other program rules.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers Medicare, may see an increase in CAH designations, potentially expanding the program's scope and associated reimbursements (CAHs receive cost-based payments rather than standard Medicare rates). This could slightly raise Medicare spending but support rural health infrastructure.
- On Citizens: Rural residents, particularly Medicare beneficiaries, could gain better access to essential hospital services without traveling long distances, reducing healthcare disparities in underserved areas.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. healthcare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Rural Healthcare Facilities: States gain authority to designate more facilities as CAHs, benefiting small rural hospitals that struggle with low patient volumes and finances.
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Older adults and disabled individuals in rural areas who rely on Medicare for coverage.
- Healthcare Providers: Rural doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators who operate or work in these facilities.
- Federal Government: CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for program implementation and funding.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill streamlines the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program without expanding eligibility beyond rural facilities, maintaining compliance with existing federal statutes. It could lead to more state-federal coordination in healthcare designations.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the changes fall within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and social welfare programs like Medicare.
- Political Implications: By prioritizing rural healthcare, the bill addresses ongoing concerns about urban-rural divides in access to services, potentially appealing to lawmakers from rural districts. It was introduced by bipartisan sponsors, suggesting broad support for enhancing rural health equity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rural Health Care Access Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (2 pages)