Defend Rural Health Act of 2026 limits geographic reclassification of hospitals under Medicare.
The Defend Rural Health Act of 2026 amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restrict the geographic reclassification of certain hospitals under the Medicare program. It modifies the criteria for hospital classification and prevents the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board from approving applications for reclassification if the hospital is treated as being in a rural area. This change aims to protect rural hospitals from being reclassified as urban hospitals, ensuring they continue to receive appropriate Medicare funding.
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- Core Provisions
- Implementation
- Impact
- Legal Framework
- Critical Issues
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