Senate passes 21st Century Cures Act

The Senate today voted 94-5 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 bill now goes to the president, who is expected to sign it. The legislation revises 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; adjusts the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to account for socioeconomic status; extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years; provides one full year of relief from the Long-term Care Hospital 25% Rule; prohibits 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; provides funding to help states address the opioid abuse crisis; and makes improvements related to mental health and substance abuse disorder services. AHA members today received a detailed Legislative Advisory outlining provisions of the bill.