Eliminating 96-hour requirements with respect to inpatient CAH services

(a) Physician certification requirement Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6), by adding and at the end; (2) in paragraph (7)(E), by striking; and and inserting a period; and (3) by striking paragraph (8). (b) Average length of stay requirement Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)(2)(B)(iii)) is amended by striking for providing inpatient care for a period that does not exceed, as determined on an annual, average basis, 96 hours per patient. (c) Applicability The amendments made by this section apply with respect to services furnished during a year that begins more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.