HR 6596 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the eligibility for the rural emergency hospital designation under the Medicare program.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html December 10, 2025

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

The bill expands the eligibility criteria for rural emergency hospital designation under Medicare by including certain off-campus outpatient departments.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  as of → , at any point during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on

  This change updates the time reference for eligibility from a specific date to a broader period.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  or

  This change modifies the list formatting, allowing for an additional condition to be added.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  . → ; or

  This change sets up for an additional condition by altering the sentence structure.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  (C) was an off-campus outpatient department of a hospital (as defined in section 1833(t)(21)(B)) that--

  This addition expands the eligibility criteria to include off-campus outpatient departments that meet specific definitions.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  (i) was a dedicated emergency department (as defined in section 489.24(b) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)); and

  This addition specifies one of the eligibility conditions related to dedicated emergency departments.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)

  (ii) was located in a county (or equivalent unit of local government) in a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)).

  This addition specifies another eligibility condition based on geographic location in a rural area.

Action History

1. December 10, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. December 10, 2025

   Introduced in House

3. December 10, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsors

• Derek Schmidt · Primary
• Ron Estes · Cosponsor

Subjects