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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
- Removes the requirement that physicians certify the medical necessity of inpatient hospital stays at critical access hospitals within 96 hours of admission.
- The requirement previously applied to inpatient services covered by Medicare.
- The removal takes effect on 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)
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![Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/S001172.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Smith, Adrian (R-NE) [#3]
2 cosponsors
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![Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/B001301.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Bergman, Jack (R-MI) [#1] -
![Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/S001185.thumb.jpg)
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. (D-AL) [#7]
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Adrian Smith’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SANDHILLS PUBLISHING $19,800
- TREGO/DUGAN AVIATION OF GRAND ISLAND $6,600
- HUB INTERNATIONAL $6,600
- ALLEGIS $6,600
- BAXTER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Adrian Smith → · Outside spending →
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)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
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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