Establishes a definition of essential health system in statute and related purposes.

This bill amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to define "essential health system" in statute. It specifies that an essential health system is a hospital that meets certain criteria, such as being a non-Federal governmental or private nonprofit hospital and providing a high-volume of care to Medicaid and other low-income patients. The bill also mandates the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MACPAC) to report essential health system index values for each hospital and establish a composite index value.

Establishes a definition of essential health system in statute and related purposes.

This bill amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to define "essential health system" in statute. It specifies that an essential health system is a hospital that meets certain criteria, such as being a non-Federal governmental or private nonprofit hospital and providing a high-volume of care to Medicaid and other low-income patients. The bill also mandates the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MACPAC) to report essential health system index values for each hospital and establish a composite index value.