S.Amdt. 2788

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Grassley for bill H.R. 1, aims to change how payments are calculated and extended for specific types of hospitals.

Key Changes and Additions:

• Payment Rebasing: It allows for the "rebasing" of payment calculations for sole community hospitals and medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals. This involves using the 12-month cost reporting period beginning during fiscal year 2016 as the base, provided this change results in a higher payment amount for the hospital.

• Payment Protections: It prohibits the Secretary from making certain adjustments to classifications and weighting factors for discharges that use these new rebased target amounts before October 1, 2015.

• Program Extensions: It extends the following programs beyond October 1, 2025:

  • The Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program.
  • The increased payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program.