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Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

USA119th CongressHR-9642| House 
| Updated: 7/13/2026
John R. Moolenaar

John R. Moolenaar

Republican Representative

Michigan

Ways and Means Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to improve access to anesthesiology services in rural areas by modifying Medicare payment rules. It proposes to shift the payment mechanism for anesthesia services provided by an anesthesiologist in specific rural hospitals and critical access hospitals from a fee-for-service model under Medicare Part B to a reasonable cost basis under Medicare Part A. This change would apply to cost reporting periods beginning one year after the bill's enactment. To be eligible, a rural hospital or critical access hospital must meet several criteria. As of the bill's enactment, the hospital must employ or contract with no more than one full-time equivalent anesthesiologist . Additionally, in 2026, and annually thereafter, the hospital's volume of surgical procedures requiring anesthesia services must not exceed 800, though the Secretary may adjust this number. Crucially, any anesthesiologist providing services at these qualifying hospitals must agree not to bill under Part B for those services. The legislation specifies that these anesthesiology services will be treated as part of inpatient hospital services for payment purposes in eligible rural hospitals and included in the scope of services for critical access hospitals. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is mandated to revise regulations to reflect these changes, effectively excluding these specific services from the traditional definition of "physicians' services" for certain Medicare provisions.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-2666
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5256
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2023
Jul 13, 2026
Introduced in House
Jul 13, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-2666
    Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5256
    Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2023


  • July 13, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • July 13, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

USA119th CongressHR-9642| House 
| Updated: 7/13/2026
This bill aims to improve access to anesthesiology services in rural areas by modifying Medicare payment rules. It proposes to shift the payment mechanism for anesthesia services provided by an anesthesiologist in specific rural hospitals and critical access hospitals from a fee-for-service model under Medicare Part B to a reasonable cost basis under Medicare Part A. This change would apply to cost reporting periods beginning one year after the bill's enactment. To be eligible, a rural hospital or critical access hospital must meet several criteria. As of the bill's enactment, the hospital must employ or contract with no more than one full-time equivalent anesthesiologist . Additionally, in 2026, and annually thereafter, the hospital's volume of surgical procedures requiring anesthesia services must not exceed 800, though the Secretary may adjust this number. Crucially, any anesthesiologist providing services at these qualifying hospitals must agree not to bill under Part B for those services. The legislation specifies that these anesthesiology services will be treated as part of inpatient hospital services for payment purposes in eligible rural hospitals and included in the scope of services for critical access hospitals. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is mandated to revise regulations to reflect these changes, effectively excluding these specific services from the traditional definition of "physicians' services" for certain Medicare provisions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-2666
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5256
Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2023
Jul 13, 2026
Introduced in House
Jul 13, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-2666
    Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5256
    Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act of 2023


  • July 13, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • July 13, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
John R. Moolenaar

John R. Moolenaar

Republican Representative

Michigan

Ways and Means Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted