Bill > HR772

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to modify Medicare regulations within 60 days of enactment, specifically removing the current requirement that off-campus medical facilities must be located within 35 miles of a hospital or critical access hospital to qualify for "provider-based status". Provider-based status is an important designation in Medicare that allows certain medical facilities to receive reimbursement at hospital rates, which are typically higher than standard outpatient rates. By eliminating the geographic proximity restriction, the bill aims to improve healthcare access for rural communities by making it easier for off-campus medical facilities to obtain this beneficial status, potentially encouraging more medical facilities to establish themselves in areas that are currently underserved. The bill is named the "Rural ER Access Act", reflecting its intention to expand healthcare options in rural regions by removing a bureaucratic barrier that might have previously discouraged medical facility development.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/772/all-info