The SOLES Act would set a minimum payment for covered outpatient services at sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. If a hospital’s payment under Medicare’s outpatient payment system is below 94% of its reasonable costs for those services, its payment would be increased to reach that level. The change would not alter patient copayments and would not be subject to budget neutrality. The bill would require regulations within six months of enactment. It has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
If you receive covered outpatient services at one of these hospitals, the bill would not change your copayment. The bill would increase payments to qualifying hospitals if their payments fall below the stated threshold.
No publicly available information on the estimated cost of the bill.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.