S.4641

The bill proposes to count outpatient observation services as inpatient hospital stays for Medicare coverage.

The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026 amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count periods of outpatient observation services in a hospital toward the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. This change applies to outpatient observation services beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and to completed periods of post-hospital extended care services if an administrative appeal is made within 90 days of the Act's enactment.