Bill · H.R. 8109· House(119-HR-8109)
Save Struggling Hospitals Act
- Introduced
- 3/26/2026
- Last activity
- 3/26/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Sponsored by
- David Kustoff
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Save Struggling Hospitals Act," seeks to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. It focuses on codifying the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy. The legislation aims to adjust the area wage index for hospitals that fall below the 25th percentile. These adjustments apply to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2019. The bill also includes specific rules to ensure these changes are applied in a budget-neutral manner.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?+3
The bill increases Medicare payments to hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+2
The bill supports the financial stability of hospitals that treat Medicare beneficiaries, including seniors.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+2
The bill benefits hospitals that typically serve low-income populations by adjusting their wage indices upward.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Wage Index Increase for Low-Wage Hospitals: For hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile, the index will be increased by 1/2 of the difference between their index and the 25th percentile index. This is intended to address the needs of hospitals in these specific areas (Section 2).
-
Protection Against Wage Index Decreases: The bill prevents adjustments from decreasing the wage index for hospitals that are below the 75th percentile. It also ensures the index for a hospital does not fall below 95 percent of what it was in the previous fiscal year (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Budget Neutrality Requirement: The bill requires that any adjustments made for the low-wage index policy must be applied in a budget-neutral manner (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Seniors+2Good For African Americans+1Good For Hispanic Americans+1Good For Rural Residents+1Good For Urban Residents+1
- Healthcare
- Increases Medicare Funding+3Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/21/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/26/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Scott DesJarlaisRepublican · Tennessee
Charles FleischmannRepublican · Tennessee
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
H. GriffithRepublican · Virginia
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama