II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1737 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 28, 2007 Mr. Sessions introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a waiver of the 35-mile drive requirement for designations of critical access hospitals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2007.

2.

Waiver of 35-mile drive requirement

(a)

In general

Section 1820(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking is a hospital and inserting subject to paragraph (3), is a hospital; and (2)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3)

Waiver of certain requirements

The Secretary may waive the requirements under subclauses (I) and (II) of paragraph (2)(B)(i) for designation of a critical access hospital by a State in any case where the Secretary determines such waiver is appropriate. . (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act.