President signs 21st Century Cures Act

President Obama today signed into law the AHA-supported 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), which includes a number of provisions important to hospitals and health systems. 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 60 days after enactment; 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. For more information, see the AHA’s recent Legislative Advisory for members outlining the bill’s provisions.