Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act of 2025

Key Points

• Congress is looking to change how Medicare pays long-term care hospitals, which are facilities that treat patients needing specialized care for several weeks. The bill would allow these hospitals to receive higher payments for treating patients with very complex medical conditions.
• Currently, Medicare pays these hospitals a lower, standard rate for many patients unless they were previously in an intensive care unit or on a ventilator. This bill creates a new "high acuity" rule, allowing the higher payment rate for any patient whose condition is considered medically difficult or severe.
• Supporters of the bill, led by Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, say this will help ensure that the sickest seniors can access specialized care. If the bill becomes law, these new payment rules would begin for patients discharged on or after October 1, 2026.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.