Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT) today introduced a Senate companion to the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act (S. 258/H.R. 169), AHA-supported legislation that would remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement as a condition of payment for critical access hospitals. Medicare currently requires physicians to certify that patients admitted to a CAH will be discharged or transferred to another hospital within 96 hours in order for the CAH to receive payment under Medicare Part A. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not historically enforced the requirement, but in recent guidance related to its two-midnight admissions policy implied that it will, a situation that would threaten patients’ access to longer care when needed. The legislation would not remove the requirement that CAHs maintain an average annual length of stay of 96 hours, nor affect other certification requirements for hospitals. Original co-sponsors include Sens. Dan Coats (R-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

 

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA July 3 released the Health Care Plan Accountability Update for the second quarter of 2025. The update covers the latest developments in Medicare…
Headline
The Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services today announced the creation of the DOJ-HHS False Claims Act Working Group to combat health care fraud…
Headline
The Joint Commission June 30 announced a new, streamlined process that removes 714 requirements from its hospital accreditation program. The new program,…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced it has identified a fraud scheme targeting Medicare providers and suppliers. CMS said scammers…
Headline
A report released June 17 by NORC at the University of Chicago, commissioned by the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, found that patients enrolled…
Headline
The AHA June 16 released a fact sheet with analysis on the impact to rural patients and hospitals from proposed Medicaid cuts by Congress. The analysis found…