Rural MOMS Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8891
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:07:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8891: Rural MOMS Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation seeks to adjust Medicare rules for critical access hospitals in rural areas, allowing them greater flexibility to maintain maternity services without affecting their hospital classification.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 1820(c)(2)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act.
- Excludes beds used solely for labor and delivery from the count of acute care inpatient beds for critical access hospitals under Medicare.
- Applies the change by adding specific language to the existing bed limit criteria.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Modifies the bed counting method under Medicare for critical access hospitals.
- Previously, labor and delivery beds were included in the total acute care inpatient bed limit; this bill removes them from that calculation.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to update its administration and verification processes for critical access hospital eligibility.
- Citizens: May improve access to maternity care for residents in rural communities by enabling more hospitals to offer these services.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders
- Critical access hospitals, particularly those in rural regions seeking to expand or maintain labor and delivery units.
- Medicare beneficiaries in underserved rural areas who need maternity care.
- Healthcare providers and administrators at rural facilities.
- Members of Congress sponsoring the bill.
Notable Implications
- Legal: Represents a targeted statutory change to Medicare eligibility rules under the Social Security Act, potentially affecting how hospitals qualify for specific reimbursement structures.
- Constitutional: Involves standard congressional authority over federal healthcare programs with no apparent conflicts noted.
- Political: Focuses on rural healthcare support through a narrow amendment to existing law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rural Maternity Options for Medical Support Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (2 pages)