The Rural Emergency Medical Center (REMC) Act (H.R. 5678) was introduced in the U.S. House on Monday by Reps. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Terri Sewell (D-AL). The bipartisan bill would create a new rural designation under the Medicare program for a 24/7 emergency department with enhanced reimbursement.
Bill highlights include:
- Establishes a new rural facility designation under the Medicare program: Rural Emergency Medical Center.
- Allows critical access hospitals and prospective payment system hospitals with 50 or fewer beds to convert to a 24/7 emergency department.
- REMCs would provide 24/7 emergency care and other outpatient services (e.g., observation, diagnostic and telehealth).
- Post-acute care could be provided in a separately licensed skilled nursing facility unit.
- REMC reimbursement would be the combination of the Medicare outpatient prospective payment system rate for services and a fixed facility fee payment.
- REMCs would be required to provide transportation to an inpatient hospital, when needed.
Click here to read an overview of the legislation.
