Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1041 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 7, 2019 Mr. SMITH of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. SEWELL of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpa- tient critical access hospital services. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Critical Access Hos- 4 pital Relief Act of 2019’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:49 Feb 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1041.IH H1041 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1041 IH SEC. 2. REMOVING MEDICARE 96-HOUR PHYSICIAN CER- 1 TIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR INPATIENT 2 CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL SERVICES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1814(a) of the Social Se- 4 curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)) is amended— 5 (1) in paragraph (6), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 6 end; 7 (2) in paragraph (7), at the end of subpara- 8 graph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ and inserting a period; 9 and 10 (3) by striking paragraph (8). 11 (b) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by sub- 12 section (a) shall apply with respect to items and services 13 furnished on or after January 1, 2020. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:49 Feb 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1041.IH H1041 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS