Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 96-Hour rule for Critical Access Hospitals.
The members released the following statements:
“Ensuring unnecessary red tape does not prevent hospitals from providing the care patients need is essential,” said Rep. Smith. “This bill would provide a permanent solution to protect patients and providers from the burdensome 96-hour rule in rural areas where access to care is challenging enough. I thank Rep. Sewell for working with me on this.”
“Far too many of Alabama’s rural hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open, putting at risk the health and well-being of our communities,” said Rep. Sewell. “Our Critical Access Hospital Relief Act would provide urgently needed relief so that critical access hospitals can keep their doors open and focus on caring for patients instead of complying with burdensome and outdated payment rules.”
The Critical Access Hospital Relief Act would repeal the 96-hour rule, which requires physicians at Critical Access Hospitals to certify at the time of admission a patient on Medicare will be discharged or transferred within 96 hours. Providers who fail to comply would risk non-reimbursement.
The legislation is supported by the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA), who released the following statements:
“Critical access hospitals are vital to health care in our rural communities, and we must do everything we can to keep them strong. These hospitals allow Nebraskans to get health care in a familiar setting close to where they live and work. Unfortunately, too many rural hospitals are at risk and too many elected officials are ignoring this crisis. The Nebraska Hospital Association commends Congressman Smith for his leadership and taking action on this important issue,” said Jeremy Nordquist President of NHA.
“The American Hospital Association (AHA) applauds Representatives Smith and Sewell for their leadership in promoting access to care in rural communities. This legislation would allow Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to serve patients needing critical medical services that may have lengths of stay greater than 96 hours. CAHs play an essential role treating patients and saving lives each and every day, and this legislation is long overdue for rural hospitals to be able to provide the types of services their communities need and seek close to home,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, AHA Senior Vice President, Legislative and Political Affairs.
BACKGROUND:
Smith first introduced legislation to repeal the 96-hour rule in 2014. Since 2018, the rule has not been enforced because of stays initiated by the Trump administration and subsequent waivers.