HR1708-119

What This Bill Does

This bill expands Medicare reimbursement for hospitals that run nursing and allied health education programs. It amends the Social Security Act to require that Medicare cover all direct and indirect costs hospitals incur for training nurses and other healthcare professionals, including costs from related educational entities.

Who Benefits and How

Hospitals with nursing schools and allied health training programs benefit significantly. They will receive fuller Medicare reimbursement for education costs that were previously denied or recouped, including costs from affiliated educational institutions. The bill also requires HHS to refund payments that were improperly reduced over the past 6 years, providing immediate financial relief to affected hospitals.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers bear the cost through increased Medicare spending to reimburse hospitals for expanded educational program costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will face additional administrative work implementing new rules and processing refunds for past recoupments.

Key Provisions

• Requires Medicare to reimburse hospitals for ALL direct and indirect costs of nursing and allied health education programs, not just some costs
• Expands reimbursable costs to include training expenses from "related entities" (affiliated schools and organizations under common ownership or control)
• Prohibits HHS from recouping or reducing future payments for allowable education program costs
• Mandates refunds to hospitals for education-related payments that were improperly recouped during the past 6 years
• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue implementing rules within 120 days