The Save Struggling Hospitals Act amends Medicare to increase wage index payments for hospitals with low wages.

The Save Struggling Hospitals Act amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust wage index payments for hospitals with low wages. Specifically, for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2019, hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile will receive an increased wage index. This adjustment is calculated as half the difference between the hospital's final area wage index and the 25th percentile area wage index. The changes are budget neutral, ensuring no hospital's wage index falls below 95 percent of the previous year's index or below the 75th percentile.

The Save Struggling Hospitals Act amends Medicare to increase wage index payments for hospitals with low wages.

The Save Struggling Hospitals Act amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust wage index payments for hospitals with low wages. Specifically, for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2019, hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile will receive an increased wage index. This adjustment is calculated as half the difference between the hospital's final area wage index and the 25th percentile area wage index. The changes are budget neutral, ensuring no hospital's wage index falls below 95 percent of the previous year's index or below the 75th percentile.