The U.S. House is expected to take action Wednesday on a revised 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), which is intended to overhaul drug development and accelerate new cures and treatments.
The revised bill reconciles House and Senate versions and also includes a number of important provisions for hospitals and health systems in South Dakota including:
- Revising the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act to move the grandfather date for off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) under development from Nov. 2, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016 or 60 days after enactment, whichever is later
- Adjusting the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to account for socioeconomic status
- Extending the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years
- Providing one full year of relief from the Long-term Care Hospital 25% Rule
- Prohibiting the Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) from enforcing the ādirect supervisionā regulations in calendar year 2016 for outpatient therapeutic services provided in critical access hospitals and certain small, rural hospitals
- Providing $1 billion in funding from 2017-2018 to help states address the opioid abuse crisis
- Strengthening mental health services provisions previously passed by the House
Please contact Rep. Kristi Noem today to request her support of H.R. 34. The Senate is expected to take up the bill sometime after the House.
