Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Hospital Access Act of 2015”.
Rural Hospital Access Act of 2015
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make permanent the extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and the increased payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program.
Sec. 2 Extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program
Extension of payment methodology— Section 1886(d)(5)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(G)) is amended—
in clause (i), by striking “, and before April 1, 2015”; and
in clause (ii)(II), by striking “, and before April 1, 2015”.
Conforming amendments—
Extension of target amount— Section 1886(b)(3)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(b)(3)(D)) is amended—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “, and before April 1, 2015”; and
in clause (iv), by striking “through fiscal year 2014 and the portion of fiscal year 2015 before April 1, 2015” and inserting “or a subsequent fiscal year”.
Permitting hospitals to decline reclassification— Section 13501(e)(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1395ww note) is amended by striking “fiscal year 2000 through the first 2 quarters of fiscal year 2015” and inserting “a subsequent fiscal year”.
Sec. 3 Extension of the increased payments under the Medicare Low-Volume Hospital Program
Section 1886(d)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(12)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “and for discharges occurring in fiscal year 2015 (beginning on April 1, 2015), fiscal year 2016, and subsequent fiscal years”;
in subparagraph (C)(i)—
by striking “fiscal years 2011 through 2014 and fiscal year 2015 (before April 1, 2015)” each place it appears and inserting “fiscal year 2011 and each subsequent year”; and
by striking “or portion of fiscal year” after “during the fiscal year”; and
in subparagraph (D)—
by striking “fiscal years 2011 through 2014 and fiscal year 2015 (before April 1, 2015),” and inserting “fiscal year 2011 and each subsequent fiscal year”; and
by striking “or the portion of fiscal year” after “fiscal year”.