Bill · S. 335· Senate(119-S-335)
Rural Hospital Support Act
- Introduced
- 1/30/2025
- Last activity
- 1/30/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Chuck Grassley
- Cosponsors
- - 8 - 8
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``Rural Hospital Support Act'' aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding hospital payments. It seeks to rebase the calculation of payments for sole community hospitals and Medicare-dependent hospitals by using a 2016 base cost reporting period. The bill also prohibits certain adjustments to classifications and weighting factors for these hospitals. Additionally, it extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program and the Medicare low-volume hospital program. These extensions apply to subsequent fiscal years rather than expiring on specific dates.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically targets funding increases and program extensions for small rural and community hospitals.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+6
By securing and increasing payments for rural and community hospitals, the bill helps ensure these essential services remain available to patients.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+5
The bill stabilizes and increases Medicare payments to hospitals, which directly supports the healthcare infrastructure used by seniors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased payments for sole community hospitals: The bill allows for a rebased target amount for these hospitals if the substitution results in a greater amount of payment (Section 2).
-
Increased payments for Medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals: For discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2025, these hospitals may receive an increase in their target amount based on a 2016 base cost reporting period (Section 3).
-
Extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program: The bill extends the payment methodology and target amount for this program into subsequent fiscal years (Section 5).
-
Extension of increased payments for the Medicare low-volume hospital program: This provision extends the program and its applicable percentage increases to subsequent fiscal years (Section 6).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Secretary adjustments: The Secretary is prohibited from making certain adjustments to classifications and weighting factors for discharges using the rebased target amounts (Section 4).
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 Rural Residents+7Good For Seniors+5Good For Low Income Households+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+6Increases Medicare Funding+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+1Increases Job Creation+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 7/16/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/3/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia