H.R. 4250: Save our Lone Emergency Services Act

This bill, titled the Save Our Lone Emergency Services Act or SOLES Act, seeks to amend existing laws regarding payments to sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. Sole community hospitals are facilities that provide essential services to communities where there are no other hospitals nearby.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Payment Adjustment: The bill proposes that if the payments for covered outpatient department (OPD) services provided by these hospitals are found to be less than 94% of the reasonable costs of delivering those services, the payments will be increased to cover that difference. This means that the federal government would provide additional funds to ensure that these hospitals are adequately compensated for the services they provide.
• Protection for Copayments: The bill clarifies that this adjustment in payments will not affect the copayment amounts that patients are required to pay for services.
• Budget Neutrality Exemption: The new payments outlined in this bill will not be subject to budget neutrality requirements, which typically ensure that any increases in spending are offset by decreases elsewhere in the budget. This means that the additional payments can be made without needing to cut other funding sources.
• Regulatory Implementation: The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to create regulations to implement these changes within six months of the bill’s enactment, with the new payment adjustments taking effect from January 1 following the enactment date.

In summary, the SOLES Act aims to enhance financial support for essential hospitals in remote areas of Alaska and Hawaii, ensuring they can continue to provide necessary medical services to their communities.

Relevant Companies

None found.