H.R. 9642 · In committee · Health

Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

Sponsor: John R. Moolenaar (R-MI)

What it does

• Establish reasonable cost-based payment for anesthesiologists in rural and critical access hospitals performing no more than 800 annual surgical procedures requiring anesthesia (or a higher threshold set by CMS).
• Shift Medicare payment methodology away from existing payment formulas to allow rural anesthesiologists to bill based on documented reasonable costs.
• Authorize CMS to adjust the 800-procedure threshold upward if circumstances warrant.

Official summary

Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act This bill modifies the Medicare payment methodology for anesthesiologists in rural hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that payment must be made on a reasonable cost basis for anesthesiologists in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals that have no more than 800 surgical procedures requiring anesthesia services per year (or a higher number set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).

Latest action

Jul 15, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.

Committee: House Ways and Means