Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

Payment Adjustment for Rural Hospitals: Certain rural and critical access hospitals will receive payment for anesthesia services on a reasonable cost basis rather than through Part B billing (Section 2(a)(1)). This change applies to hospitals that meet specific surgical volume limits and staffing requirements.

Streamlined Service Classification: Anesthesia services provided by anesthesiologists in these specific hospitals will be treated as part of inpatient hospital services (Section 2(a)(2)).

Strict Eligibility Requirements for Hospitals: To receive the new payment structure, hospitals must prove they have a specific volume of surgical procedures, not exceeding 800 (or a number determined by the Secretary), in the previous year (Section 2(a)(1)(ii)).

Staffing Limitations: The benefit is limited to hospitals that employ or contract with no more than one full-time equivalent physician who is an anesthesiologist (Section 2(a)(1)(ii)(I)).

Billing Restrictions: Anesthesiologists must agree not to bill under Part B for the professional services they furnish at these hospitals to qualify for the arrangement (Section 2(a)(1)(ii)(I)(cc)).