CRITICAL Act

119 S552 IS: Comprehensive Reimbursement Initiative Targeting Investment and Care in rural Locations U.S. Senate 2025-02-12 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. II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 552 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 12, 2025 Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Schatz ) 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 the treatment of critical access hospital services furnished by a critical access hospital located in a noncontiguous State. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Comprehensive Reimbursement Initiative Targeting Investment and Care in rural Locations or the CRITICAL Act . 2. Treatment of critical access hospitals located in a noncontiguous State (a) Inpatient critical access hospital services Section 1814(l)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(l)(1) ) is amended by inserting (or, in the case of inpatient critical access hospital services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, by a critical access hospital that is located in a noncontiguous State, 105 percent) after 101 percent . (b) Outpatient critical access hospital services Section 1834(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(1) ) is amended by inserting (or, in the case of outpatient critical access hospital services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, by a critical access hospital that is located in a noncontiguous State, 105 percent) after 101 percent . (c) Ambulance services Section 1834(l)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(8) ) is amended by inserting (or, in the case of ambulance services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, by a critical access hospital that is located in a noncontiguous State or by an entity that is owned and operated by a critical access hospital that is located in a noncontiguous State, 105 percent) after 101 percent . (d) Skilled nursing facility services Section 1883(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395tt(a)(3) ) is amended by inserting (or, in the case of covered skilled nursing facility services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, under an agreement under this section by a critical access hospital that is located in a noncontiguous State, 105 percent) after 101 percent .