United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 4 R · 2 D cosponsors

HR 9642 — Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

Last action — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill aims to improve Medicare coverage for rural anesthesiology services.

This legislation seeks to enhance access to anesthesiology services in rural areas under Medicare. By doing so, it addresses potential gaps in healthcare for patients living in these regions.

What this means for you
  • Families: Families in rural areas may benefit from increased availability of necessary surgical services.
  • Healthcare: This means enhanced access to anesthesiology services for patients in rural areas.

Summary

Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology ActThis 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).

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends provisions of the Social Security Act to establish reasonable cost payment for anesthesia services provided by anesthesiologists in certain rural and critical access hospitals.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)

    (N)(i) For cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, in the case of a subsection (d) hospital described in clause (ii), payment to such hospital for physicians' services that are anesthesia services furnished by a physician who is an anesthesiologist in such hospital shall be made on a reasonable cost basis.

    This adds a new provision allowing reasonable cost payment for anesthesia services by anesthesiologists in specific hospitals.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)

    (ii)(I) Subject to subclause (II), for purposes of clause (i), a subsection (d) hospital described in this clause is, with respect to a year (beginning with 2026), a subsection (d) hospital that is located in a rural area (as defined in paragraph (2)(D))...

    Defines which hospitals qualify for the new payment structure based on location and criteria.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)

    (8) a physician who is an anesthesiologist where the hospital is a subsection (d) hospital described in section 1886(d)(5)(N)(ii).

    Includes anesthesia services by anesthesiologists as part of inpatient hospital services under certain conditions.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(a)(4)

    costs with respect to administering blood clotting factors → for cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, costs of physicians' services that are anesthesia services furnished by a physician who is an anesthesiologist in a subsection (d) hospital described in subsection (d)(5)(N)(ii),

    Excludes specific costs related to anesthesia services from the operating costs calculation for inpatient hospital services.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)

    For cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, such term includes physicians' services that are anesthesia services furnished by a physician who is an anesthesiologist in a critical access hospital described in paragraph (4).

    Includes anesthesia services by anesthesiologists in critical access hospitals under certain cost reporting periods.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)

    (4)(A)... for purposes of paragraph (2), a critical access hospital described in this paragraph is, with respect to a year (beginning with 2027), a critical access hospital that establishes, at any time before the year, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that...

    Sets criteria for critical access hospitals to qualify for anesthesia services payment under the bill.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(1)

    (other than physicians' services that are anesthesia services furnished during a cost reporting period beginning on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act by a physician who is an anesthesiologist in a subsection (d) hospital described in section 1886(d)(5)(N)(ii) or a critical access hospital described in section 1861(mm)(4))

    Exempts specified anesthesia services from exclusions under medical and other health services.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(14)

    the term ``physicians' services'' to exclude physicians' services that are anesthesia services furnished by a physician who is an anesthesiologist in...

    Changes regulations to define anesthesia services provided by anesthesiologists as not counted under certain exclusions.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  4. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  5. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 541 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (541)

541 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 541 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 9642 do?
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology ActThis 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).
Who sponsors HR 9642?
HR 9642 is sponsored by Moolenaar, John R. (Republican), Huffman, Jared (Democratic), Murphy, Gregory F. (Republican), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Meuser, Daniel (Republican), and Moore, Barry (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 9642?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 9642?
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