What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025 This bill repeals the 96-hour physician-certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under Medicare. Under current law, as a condition for Medicare payment for such services, a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital.
Action Timeline
2025-01-16
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
2025-01-16
Introduced in House
2025-01-16
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.538 pass?
HR.538 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: 40%.
What does HR.538 do?
Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025 This bill repeals the 96-hour physician-certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under Medicare. Under current law, as a condition for Medicare payment for such services, a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital.
Who sponsored HR.538?
HR.538 was sponsored by Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 538 IH: Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 538 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. Sewell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025 . 2. Removing Medicare 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (a) In general Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6), by adding and at the end; (2) in paragraph (7), at the end of subparagraph (E), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and (3) by striking paragraph (8). (b) Application The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
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