118 S1571 IS: Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023
U.S. Senate
2023-05-11
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II
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1571
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 11, 2023
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Lankford) 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 restore State authority to waive for certain facilities the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023”.
2.

Restoring State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for certain Medicare critical access hospital designations
(a)

In general
Section 1820 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (c)(2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (B)(i)—
(i)
in subclause (I), by striking “or” at the end;
(ii)
in subclause (II), by inserting “or” at the end; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(III)
subject to subparagraph (G), is a hospital described in subparagraph (F) and is certified on or after the date of the enactment of the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023 by the State as being a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area;”; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
“(F)

Hospital described
For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i)(III), a hospital described in this subparagraph is a hospital that—
(i)
is a sole community hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)), a medicare dependent, small rural hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv)), a low-volume hospital that in 2021 receives a payment adjustment under section 1886(d)(12), a subsection (d) hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(1)(B)) that has fewer than 50 beds, or, subject to the limitation under subparagraph (G)(i)(I), is a facility described in subparagraph (G)(ii);
(ii)
is located in a rural area, as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D);
(iii)
(I)
is located—
- (aa)
in a county that has a percentage of individuals with income that is below 150 percent of the poverty line that is higher than the national or statewide average in 2021; or
- (bb)
in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act); or
(II)
has a percentage of inpatient days of individuals entitled to benefits under part A of this title, enrolled under part B of this title, or enrolled under a State plan under title XIX that is higher than the national or statewide average in 2020 or 2021;
(iv)
subject to subparagraph (G)(ii)(II), has attested to the Secretary two consecutive years of negative operating margins preceding the date of certification described in subparagraph (B)(i)(III); and
(v)
submits to the Secretary—
(I)
at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, an attestation outlining the good governance qualifications and strategic plan for multi-year financial solvency of the hospital; and
(II)
not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary issues final regulations pursuant to section 2(b) of the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023, an application for certification of the facility as a critical access hospital.
(G)

Limitation on certain designations
(i)

In general
The Secretary may not under subsection (e) certify pursuant to a certification by a State under subparagraph (B)(i)(III)—
(I)
more than a total of 175 facilities as critical access hospitals, of which not more than 20 percent may be facilities described in clause (ii); and
(II)
within any one State, more than 10 facilities as critical access hospitals.
(ii)

Facility described
(I)

In general
A facility described in this clause is a facility that as of the date of enactment of this subparagraph met the criteria for designation as a critical access hospital under subparagraph (B)(i)(I).
(II)

Nonapplication of certain criteria
For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i)(III), the criteria described in subparagraph (F)(iv) shall not apply with respect to the designation of a facility described in subclause (I).”; and
(2)
in subsection (e), by inserting “, subject to subsection (c)(2)(G),” after “The Secretary shall”.
(b)

Regulations
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue final regulations to carry out subsection (a).
(c)

Clarification regarding facilities that meet distance or other certification criteria
Nothing in this section shall affect the application of criteria for designation as a critical access hospital described in subclause (I) or (II) section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)(2)(B)(i)).
(d)

GAO study and report
(1)

Study
The Comptroller General of the United States (in this section referred to as the “Comptroller General”), in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall conduct a study on the implementation of the amendments made by subsection (a). Such study shall include an analysis of—
(A)
the characteristics of facilities designated as critical access hospitals pursuant to section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a);
(B)
the financial status and outlook for such facilities based on their designation as a critical access hospital pursuant to such section;
(C)
any increase in expenditures under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) as a result of such designation, relative to the expected baseline expenditures under the Medicare program if such facilities had not received such designation; and
(D)
whether the authority to designate facilities as critical access hospitals pursuant to such section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) should be maintained as is, modified in scale or scope, or sunset.
(2)

Report
Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(e)

Guidance
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Comptroller General submits the report to Congress under subsection (d)(2), the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall establish a mechanism and provide guidance and technical assistance to facilities that have been designated as a critical access hospital pursuant to section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a), on how such facilities may consider transitioning to a different payment model under the Medicare program.