Bill > HR4269

This bill, called the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act, aims to modify the Medicare payment system for hospital outpatient department services specifically in Alaska and Hawaii. Starting January 1, 2026, the bill allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to apply a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the non-labor related portion of hospital outpatient payments for these two states. The key difference from existing regulations is that this adjustment will not be budget neutral, meaning the adjustment can increase overall Medicare spending rather than requiring offsets from other areas. This provision recognizes the unique and often higher costs of providing healthcare services in Alaska and Hawaii, where geographic isolation, transportation challenges, and higher living expenses can make medical care more expensive. By allowing a specific cost-of-living adjustment for these states' hospital outpatient services, the bill seeks to help ensure more equitable healthcare funding and potentially improve access to medical services in these rural, high-cost regions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4269/all-info