Critical Access Hospital RIP Act of 2026

This bill changes Medicare law so that a facility designated as a critical access hospital would not lose that status because of a road or transportation project completed after it was designated. Critical access hospitals must meet distance requirements from other hospitals, and new or improved roads can shorten travel distances. Under the bill, such a facility would be treated as still meeting the distance requirement if it would meet it except for the road project. Covered projects include building, realigning, widening, or improving highways or roads, and building or changing bridges, overpasses, or tunnels.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Bennie G. Thompson Democrat sponsor
• 6 cosponsors