H.R. 8986

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8986 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8986

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for the 
designation of certain facilities as critical access hospitals under 
the Medicare program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2026

Mr. Newhouse (for himself and Mr. Larsen of Washington) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for the 
designation of certain facilities as critical access hospitals under 
the Medicare program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Rural Health Care Access 
for Military and Tribal Families Act''.

SEC. 2. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES, DEPENDENTS, AND VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS.

Section 1820(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-
4(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ``subject to 
subparagraph (F),'' before ``is a hospital'';
(2) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking ``The total'' and 
inserting ``Subject to subparagraph (F), the total''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(F) Essential health care access for members of 
the armed forces, dependents, and veterans in rural 
areas.--
``(i) In general.--Beginning October 1, 
2026, a State may designate a facility as a 
critical access hospital without regard to the 
criteria under subparagraph (B)(i) if the 
facility meets 3 or more of the following 
criteria:
``(I) The hospital--
``(aa) delivers health care 
services to individuals covered 
under the TRICARE program (as 
defined in section 1072 of 
title 10, United States Code) 
and veterans enrolled in the 
patient enrollment system under 
section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code, living in 
rural areas; and
``(bb) is located in a 
county (or equivalent unit of 
local government) in a rural 
area (as defined in section 
1886(d)(2)(D)) or is treated as 
being located in a rural area 
pursuant to section 
1886(d)(8)(E), or is located in 
an area that otherwise meets 
the definition of rural 
established by the Federal 
Office of Rural Health Policy.
``(II) The hospital is not a sole 
community hospital (as defined in 
section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)).
``(III) At the time of designation, 
8 percent or more of the annual gross 
revenue of the hospital and its 
provider-based departments, including 
affiliated outpatient department and 
provider-based clinics, is derived from 
services provided to individuals 
covered under the TRICARE program.
``(IV) At the time of designation, 
15 percent or more of the annual gross 
revenue from labor and delivery 
services of the hospital is derived 
from services provided to individuals 
covered under the TRICARE program.
``(V) The hospital is located on a 
reservation (as defined in section 4 of 
the Indian Health Care Improvement 
Act).
``(ii) Psychiatric and rehabilitation 
distinct part units.--A facility described in 
clause (i) may establish a distinct part unit 
under subparagraph (E) without regard to the 
limitation on number of beds under clause (ii) 
of such subparagraph. The Secretary may not 
take a distinct part unit so established by 
such facility into account when determining 
whether such facility is primarily engaged in 
providing the services described in section 
1861(e)(1).''.
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