U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) recently co-sponsored HR. 538, the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025, which would remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient services at critical access hospitals.
The bill, introduced in January 2025, would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the mandate that a physician certify that a Medicare patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital. The proposed change is intended to reduce administrative burden and increase operational flexibility for rural hospitals in managing patient care and staffing, particularly during transfer delays or capacity constraints.
The MHA supports this legislation and will continue to review its potential implications for Michigan’s critical access hospitals, providing updates as the bill advances through Congress.
Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine-Ray at the MHA.