Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2017”.
Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2017
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit hospitals in all-urban States to be considered Medicare dependent hospitals, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Permitting hospitals in all-urban States to be considered Medicare dependent hospitals
In general— Section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(G)(iv)(I)) is amended to read as follows:
“(I) that—
“(aa) is located in a rural area; or
“(bb) for discharges occurring on or after January 1, 2011, is located in a State with no rural area (as defined in paragraph (2)(D)) and satisfies any of the criteria in subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of paragraph (8)(E)(ii),”
Process for recalculating payments— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish and implement a process under which the Secretary shall reimburse hospitals impacted by the amendment made by subsection (a) for any underpayments under title XVIII of the Social Security Act that are a result of the implementation of such amendment.