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SOLES Act
3/12/2025, 4:40 PM
Summary of Bill S 553
Bill 119 s 553, also known as the Sole Community Hospital Preservation Act, aims to make changes to title XVIII of the Social Security Act in order to ensure that sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii receive a minimum level of payment under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.
Sole community hospitals are facilities that are the sole provider of hospital services in a particular area, often in rural or remote locations. These hospitals play a crucial role in providing essential healthcare services to residents in these regions.
The bill proposes to establish a minimum payment floor for these hospitals to ensure that they receive adequate reimbursement for the services they provide. This is particularly important for hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii, where the cost of providing healthcare services is often higher due to factors such as geographic isolation and limited resources. By setting a minimum payment floor, the bill aims to help sustain these vital healthcare facilities and ensure that they can continue to serve their communities effectively. This legislation is crucial in supporting access to healthcare in underserved areas and ensuring that all individuals have access to quality medical care, regardless of their location.
Sole community hospitals are facilities that are the sole provider of hospital services in a particular area, often in rural or remote locations. These hospitals play a crucial role in providing essential healthcare services to residents in these regions.
The bill proposes to establish a minimum payment floor for these hospitals to ensure that they receive adequate reimbursement for the services they provide. This is particularly important for hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii, where the cost of providing healthcare services is often higher due to factors such as geographic isolation and limited resources. By setting a minimum payment floor, the bill aims to help sustain these vital healthcare facilities and ensure that they can continue to serve their communities effectively. This legislation is crucial in supporting access to healthcare in underserved areas and ensuring that all individuals have access to quality medical care, regardless of their location.
Congressional Summary of S 553
Save our Lone Emergency Services Act or the SOLES Act
This bill requires Medicare payments to sole community hospitals in Alaska or Hawaii to cover at least 94% of the reasonable costs of covered outpatient services.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill S 553
Bill S 553 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 12, 2025. Bill S 553 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on February 12, 2025. Bill S 553's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. as of February 12, 2025
Bipartisan Support of Bill S 553
Total Number of Sponsors
3Democrat Sponsors
0Republican Sponsors
3Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
2Democrat Cosponsors
1Republican Cosponsors
1Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 553
Primary Policy Focus
HealthAlternate Title(s) of Bill S 553
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a floor on payments to sole community hospitals located in Alaska and Hawaii under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a floor on payments to sole community hospitals located in Alaska and Hawaii under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.
Comments
Sponsors and Cosponsors of S 553
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