Protect DSH Act

HR 3581, the Protect DSH Act, delays federal payment reductions for Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) that serve high numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients. It amends the Social Security Act to extend the timeline for these payment reductions from 2026-2028 to 2029-2031. The bill directly affects hospitals qualifying as DSH by postponing the scheduled decrease in federal funding. This change provides temporary financial stability for these healthcare providers without altering the underlying payment structure. The bill focuses on procedural timing, not policy changes to the DSH program itself.