H.R. 9642 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, Jul 13, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryChanges how Medicare pays rural anesthesiologists
Medicare currently pays anesthesiologists using a standard fee schedule. This bill would change the payment method for anesthesiologists who work in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals that do fewer than 800 surgeries per year requiring anesthesia. Instead of the standard fee schedule, Medicare would pay these anesthesiologists based on their actual reasonable costs.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural area and rely on Medicare, this could affect the availability of anesthesia services at your local hospital. Rural anesthesiologists at smaller hospitals might find it easier to stay in practice under this cost-based payment method rather than the standard fee schedule. This change applies specifically to rural and critical access hospitals with lower surgical volumes.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jul 13, 2026)
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act
This bill modifies the Medicare payment methodology for anesthesiologists in rural hospitals.
Specifically, the bill provides that payment must be made on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesiologists in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals that have no more than 800 surgical procedures requiring anesthesia services per year (or a higher number set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).
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.
2nd SessionH. R. 9642
A BILL
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act
Sponsor: Rep. John R. Moolenaar (R-MI-2) · Introduced Jul 13, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 15, 2026: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.”