Revised 21st Century Cures bill includes AHA-supported provisions
House leaders Friday unveiled a revised , which includes a number of AHA-supported provisions important to hospitals and health systems. The provisions would revise the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act to move the grandfather date for off-campus hospital outpatient departments under development from Nov. 2, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016 or 60 days after enactment, whichever is later; adjust the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to account for socioeconomic status; extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years; provide one full year of relief from the Long-term Care Hospital 25% Rule; prohibit the Health and Human Services Secretary from enforcing the “direct supervision” regulations in calendar year 2016 for outpatient therapeutic services provided in critical access hospitals and certain small, rural hospitals; provide funding to help states address the opioid abuse crisis; and make improvements related to mental health and substance abuse disorder services. The House is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday. AHA members received an Alert today with more information.