H.R. 6596: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the eligibility for the rural emergency hospital designation under the Medicare program.

The bill aims to modify the eligibility criteria for the rural emergency hospital designation within the Medicare program. Here are the main features of the proposed changes:

1. Changes to Eligibility Timing

The bill will amend the existing law by changing the eligibility timeframe for facilities that wish to be designated as rural emergency hospitals. Specifically, it will replace the phrase "as of" with "at any point during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on," allowing for a broader window for facilities to meet eligibility criteria.

2. Clarification of Eligible Facilities

The bill specifies that in order to qualify for the rural emergency hospital designation, a facility must:

• Have been an off-campus outpatient department of a hospital as defined by relevant Medicare regulations.
• Be classified as a dedicated emergency department according to federal regulations.
• Be situated in a rural area, as defined under Medicare regulations.

These changes are designed to potentially increase the number of hospitals that can receive this designation, thereby enhancing access to emergency medical services in rural areas.

3. Legislative Path

As of December 10, 2025, the bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration.

Relevant Companies

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