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H.R. 2957 115th Congress House

Save Rural Hospitals Act

Official title: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for enhanced payments to rural health care providers under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 20, 2017 Introduced by: Sam Graves Republican · Missouri See on congress.gov
Health Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesCardiovascular and respiratory health
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Debt collectionDepartment of Health and Human ServicesHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelHome and outpatient careHospital careMedicarePublic contracts and procurementRural conditions and development
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 11, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 23, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 23, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
Jun 20, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 20, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 11, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Save Rural Hospitals Act

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to increase payments to, and modify various requirements regarding, rural health care providers under the Medicare program. Among other provisions, the bill: (1) reverses cuts to reimbursement of bad debt for critical access hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals, as well as alters certain requirements with regard to CAHs; (2) extends payment levels for low-volume hospitals and Medicare-dependent hospitals (MDHs); (3) reinstates revised diagnosis-related group payments to MDHs and sole community hospitals (SCHs), as well as reinstates hold harmless treatment for hospital outpatient services for SCHs; (4) delays the application of penalties for a rural hospital's failure to become a meaningful electronic health record user; (5) makes permanent increased Medicare payments for ground ambulance services in rural areas; (6) alters certain supervision requirements for therapeutic hospital outpatient services; (7) modifies requirements related to the use and payment of recovery audit contractors; and (8) establishes a program under which rural hospitals meeting specified requirements may be eligible for enhanced payment for qualified outpatient services.

In addition, the bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to eliminate Medicare sequestration for rural hospitals.

The bill also amends title XIX (Medicaid) of SSAct to extend Medicaid primary care payments.

With respect to both the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the bill eliminates disproportionate share hospital payment reductions for rural hospitals.

The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize several competitive grant programs to assist eligible rural hospitals.
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 3225 Reintroduction of Save Rural Hospitals Act
  • HR 5507 Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2018
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 24
All 24 Democratic 3 Republican 7
Russell, Steve
· Sep 28, 2018
Poliquin, Bruce
· Sep 13, 2018
 D
Gonzalez, Vicente
Texas · Apr 24, 2018
 R
Higgins, Clay
Louisiana · Feb 15, 2018
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Nov 29, 2017
 R
Williams, Roger
Texas · Oct 31, 2017
Hurd, Will
· Oct 3, 2017
Conaway, K.
· Sep 13, 2017
 D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · Sep 6, 2017
THORNBERRY, WILLIAM
· Sep 6, 2017
 R
Valadao, David G.
California · Sep 6, 2017
KIND, RON
· Jul 28, 2017
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Jul 26, 2017
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · Jul 26, 2017
Stewart, Chris
· Jul 26, 2017
Vela, Filemon
· Jul 26, 2017
Walz, Timothy
· Jul 26, 2017
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Jul 19, 2017
Harper, Gregg
· Jul 12, 2017
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Jul 12, 2017
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Jul 12, 2017
Farenthold, Blake
· Jul 11, 2017
Palazzo, Steven
· Jun 27, 2017
Loebsack, David
· Jun 20, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2957: Save Rural Hospitals Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2957/
MLA
"H.R. 2957: Save Rural Hospitals Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2957/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2957, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2957/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2957: Save Rural Hospitals Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2957/)
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