S.553

The Save our Lone Emergency Services Act establishes a floor on payments to sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii under the hospital.

The Save our Lone Emergency Services Act, also known as the SOLES Act, amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a floor on payments to sole community hospitals located in Alaska and Hawaii under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. If the Secretary determines that the payment for covered outpatient department services is less than 94 percent of the hospital's reasonable costs, the payment amount will be increased by the difference. The additional payments will not be considered an adjustment or implemented in a budget-neutral manner.