S. 3047: Restoring Rural Health Act

This bill, known as the Restoring Rural Health Act, aims to amend the treatment of certain critical access hospitals under the Social Security Act. Here are the key points of the legislation:

Purpose

The main purpose of the bill is to ensure that specific critical access hospitals, which play a crucial role in providing healthcare in rural areas, are supported if they face compliance issues related to distance from the nearest hospital.

Definition of Critical Access Hospitals

A critical access hospital is typically a small facility that provides outpatient and inpatient services to communities in rural areas. These hospitals are essential for ensuring access to health care where larger hospitals may be far away.

Provisions of the Bill

• The bill proposes amendments to Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act.
• It specifies that a hospital can maintain its designation as a critical access hospital if:
  • It was designated as such as of January 1, 2024.
  • It receives a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2027, indicating that the facility does not comply with the distance requirement as specified in federal regulations.

Impact

This bill is intended to provide additional security for hospitals that may struggle with meeting certain distance regulations, ensuring that they continue to serve their communities, which is especially vital in rural areas where healthcare access can be limited.

Relevant Companies

• None found