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To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals.
Summary
The bill updates Medicare reimbursement rules for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals in remote or mountainous areas. It amends the distance requirement for ambulance service fee calculations to allow a 15-mile drive distance in mountainous terrain or areas with only secondary roads available, instead of the standard 35-mile distance. The bill allows hospitals already designated as critical access hospitals that previously met the 15-mile mountainous terrain requirement to maintain that designation even if a new facility is located 10 to 15 miles away. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue regulations within one year to implement these provisions. The changes are effective beginning January 1, 2026.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
3 cosponsors
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA)
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA)
- Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2] (R-WV)
Actions (2)
- Jun 5, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Jun 5, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2025
Mrs. Miller of West Virginia (for herself and Ms. Lofgren) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access 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 “Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act” or the “PEAKS Act”.
SEC. 2. UPDATE TO FEE SCHEDULE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS.
Section 1834(l)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(8)) is amended in the flush left text following subparagraph
(B) by inserting “(or, in the case of mountainous terrain or in areas with only secondary roads available, a 15-mile drive)” after “35-mile drive”.
SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF HOSPITALS THAT MET MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OR SECONDARY ROADS DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR DESIGNATION AS CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL.
Section 1820(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Treatment of hospitals that met mountainous terrain or secondary roads distance requirements for designation.—
“(A) In general.—Beginning January 1, 2026, in the case of a hospital described in subparagraph (B), such hospital shall be deemed to meet the 15-mile distance requirement for mountainous terrain or secondary roads described in subsection
(c)(2)(B)(i)(I).
“(B) Hospital described.—A hospital described in this subparagraph is a hospital that—
“(i) as of the date of enactment of this paragraph, is designated as a critical access hospital;
“(ii) demonstrates (in a manner determined by the Secretary) that the hospital met the 15- mile distance requirement for mountainous terrain or secondary roads described in subsection (c)(2)(B)(i)(I) as of the hospital’s last certification as a critical access hospital; and
“(iii) after such date of enactment, has a new hospital or other facility described in this subsection that is located not less than 10, but no more than 15, miles from the hospital.
“(C) Regulations.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this paragraph.”. <all>
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