S. 521 — Introduced in Senate

II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 521 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 11, 2025Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Access to Rural Community Hospitals Act of 2025. 2. Waiving certain distance requirements for certain hospitals electing to be designated as critical access hospitals (a) In general Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)(2)(B)(i)) is amended— (1) in subclause (I), by striking or at the end; (2) in subclause (II), by adding or at the end; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subclause: (III) with respect to designations occurring during the 1-year period beginning on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subclause, is a rural community hospital (as defined in subsection (f) of section 410A of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003) that was participating in the demonstration program established under such section as of such date of enactment. . (b) Conforming amendments Section 410A(f)(1)(A)(iv) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (42 U.S.C. 1395ww note) is amended by striking is not and all that follows through the period and inserting is not a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act)..