S. 521

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · February 11, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Fischer · Committee: Committee on Finance

Table of contents

• S. 521
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Waiving certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Waiving certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals

• (a) In general
  • Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)(2)(B)(i)
    • in subclause (I), by striking or at the end;
    • in subclause (II), by adding at the end; and or
      • with respect to designations occurring during the 1-year period beginning on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subclause, is a rural community hospital (as defined in subsection (f) of section 410A of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003) that was participating in the demonstration program established under such section as of such date of enactment.
    • by adding at the end the following new subclause:
• (b) Conforming amendments
  • Section 410A(f)(1)(A)(iv) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 ( note) is amended by striking is notand all that follows through the period and inserting is not a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act).. 42 U.S.C. 1395ww