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Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services.
Summary
This bill amends Medicare rules for critical access hospitals by removing a requirement that physicians certify inpatient stays as medically necessary within 96 hours of admission. Critical access hospitals are small rural facilities that play an important role in providing healthcare access to underserved areas. The 96-hour physician certification has been a condition for Medicare reimbursement of inpatient critical access hospital services, and this bill eliminates that requirement. The change takes effect for services furnished on or after 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)
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE)
2 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Jan 16, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. · house
- Jan 16, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2025
Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services.
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 “Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. REMOVING MEDICARE 96-HOUR PHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR INPATIENT CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL SERVICES.
(a) In General.—Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6), by adding “and” at the end;
(2) in paragraph (7), at the end of subparagraph (E), by striking “; and” and inserting a period; and
(3) by striking paragraph (8).
(b) Application.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. <all>
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