H.R. 1924 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, Mar 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMedicare payment changes for long-term care hospitals
When seniors are discharged from long-term care hospitals (facilities for people who need extended medical care after acute illness), Medicare usually pays those hospitals a lower rate called the site-neutral payment rate. This bill would let certain long-term care hospitals get their regular specialized payment rate instead of that lower rate, but only if the patient being discharged meets high acuity criteria (meaning they're very sick) and the discharge happens on or after October 1, 2026.
How it affects you
If you're a senior in a long-term care hospital with serious medical needs, this could mean the hospital gets paid more for your care under certain conditions. Long-term care hospitals might use this additional payment to support the care they provide to patients in critical condition. For most people, the effects depend on how hospitals respond to the payment change.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 6, 2025)
Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act of 2025
This bill exempts discharges from long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) from the Medicare site-neutral payment rate if the discharge meets specified high acuity criteria and occurs on or after October 1, 2026. (The site-neutral rate is the lower of Medicare’s acute care hospital payment rate under the inpatient prospective payment system or 100% of the cost of the stay. LTCH stays that do not qualify for the specialized LTCH payment rate under Medicare are instead paid at the site-neutral rate.)
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1924
A BILL
Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK-1) · Introduced Mar 6, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 6, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.”