Rural ER Access Act

The Rural ER Access Act removes a Medicare rule requiring off-campus emergency departments (ERs) to be located within 35 miles of their main hospital campus to qualify for the same billing and reimbursement as the main facility. This change directly affects rural hospitals and clinics operating off-campus ERs, which often face geographic barriers under the current 35-mile limit. By eliminating this location requirement, the bill allows these rural ERs to be treated as part of the main hospital for Medicare purposes, potentially expanding access to emergency care in remote areas. The regulation change must be implemented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 60 days of the bill’s enactment.