S 4641

Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026

Summary

Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026 This bill deems an individual receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital as an inpatient for purposes of satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital-stay requirement with respect to Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. (Generally, individuals must have been an inpatient at a hospital for at least three days in order to qualify for SNF services. An individual's time spent under observation at a hospital for purposes of determining whether the individual should be admitted does not count towards this requirement.)

Bill status

Status
In committee
Sponsor
Sen. Susan M. Collins [R-ME]
Cosponsors
5
Policy area
Health
Introduced
2026-05-21
Latest action
2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Committee referrals

Recent actions

  • 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate