House passes 21st Century Cures Act

The House of Representatives last night voted 392-26 to approve the AHA-supported 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), which includes a number of provisions important to hospitals and health systems. The Senate could vote on the measure next week. The bill would revise the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act to move the grandfather date for off-campus hospital outpatient departments under development from Nov. 2, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016 or 60 days after enactment, whichever is later; adjust the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to account for socioeconomic status; extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years; provide one full year of relief from the Long-term Care Hospital 25% Rule; prohibit the Health and Human Services Secretary from enforcing the “direct supervision” regulations in calendar year 2016 for outpatient therapeutic services provided in critical access hospitals and certain small, rural hospitals; provide funding to help states address the opioid abuse crisis; and make improvements related to mental health and substance abuse disorder services. For more information, see the recent AHA Special Bulletin for members.