Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act

# Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act – Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would allow Medicare (the federal health insurance program for seniors and certain disabled individuals) to adjust its payment rates for hospital outpatient services in Alaska and Hawaii to account for the higher cost of living in those states. Currently, Medicare uses standard payment rates nationwide, which may not reflect the significantly higher expenses hospitals face in these remote locations, such as higher wages, transportation costs, and supplies. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects Medicare beneficiaries, hospitals, and healthcare providers in Alaska and Hawaii. Patients in these states could benefit from better access to outpatient hospital services if the adjusted payments help hospitals maintain and expand their services.

Hospitals in these states would receive higher reimbursements to offset their elevated operating costs. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI).