This bill has advanced since we wrote our summary.
Current stage on Congress.gov: Engrossed in Senate.
Extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years, lengthening the total extension period from 15 to 20 years. The program, created in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, lets certain small rural hospitals with fewer than 51 beds bill Medicare on a reasonable-cost basis rather than under standard prospective payment rates. Hospitals that joined the demonstration between December 30, 2024 and January 1, 2027 would be folded into the new fourth-five-year tranche on the same terms as earlier participants. The bill adds no new spending authority beyond the extension itself.
Congressional Summary
Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program ReauthorizationThis bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years. The program tests the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement under Medicare for small rural hospitals that are too large to qualify for special payment as critical access hospitals.The bill specifies that hospitals that participate in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027, may continue to participate during the five-year extension period.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-04-30
- Date Added
- 2026-05-22
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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