SOLES Act

This bill makes sure Medicare pays small, isolated hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii enough to keep their outpatient services running. If these “sole community hospitals” are paid less than 94% of what it reasonably costs them to provide outpatient care, Medicare must boost the payment to reach that level. This helps keep doors open for people who may have no other nearby hospital option .

It does not change what patients owe for copays. The extra payments aren’t offset elsewhere in the program. The government must write the rules within six months, and the change starts with the first January 1 after those rules are issued.

• Who is affected: Patients and sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii, especially in remote areas.
• What changes: Medicare will ensure these hospitals get at least 94% of their reasonable outpatient costs; patient copays stay the same; payments aren’t budget-neutral offsets.
• When: Rules due within six months; changes take effect on the first January 1 after the rules are issued.