ICU Bed Act of 2026

This legislation amends the Social Security Act to mandate that hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals report their intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time. This reporting requirement will become a condition of participation under the Medicare program, taking effect one year after the bill's enactment. The primary goal is to enhance the efficient utilization of healthcare resources and improve patient care coordination.

Under the new requirements, these facilities must participate in a shared data reporting system that provides real-time information on ICU bed availability to other participating hospitals within their designated region. Furthermore, they are required to maintain a shared strategy for efficiently transferring patients between facilities when a hospital approaches or reaches its ICU bed capacity. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will be responsible for establishing these regions, considering factors such as geography, population, and travel time between hospitals.

Additionally, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include activities related to efficient patient transfers to prevent overcapacity during public health emergencies within the scope of the Partnership for State and Regional Hospital Preparedness program. It also extends the authorization for this program's funding through fiscal year 2031, reinforcing preparedness efforts.