I am proud to introduce this legislation to support these hospitals so they can keep their doors open and continue serving patients who depend on them every day.
Will work to fix Medicare payment formulas so rural and lower-wage hospitals are treated more fairly and can keep their doors open.
Occurrences
Evidence
unverified · Source version 16104 · locator unknown
"Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the bipartisan Save Struggling Hospitals Act, legislation to fix Medicare payment formulas that do not account for the cost pressures facing hospitals in rural and lower-wage areas."
unverified · Source version 999 · locator unknown
"Mr. Kustoff (for himself and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means" and the bill's full title is "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy."
unverified · Source version 59669 · locator unknown
The Senate companion bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on Finance; the title is "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy."
unverified · Source version 59664 · locator unknown
Newest: H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Aug 31, 2026
verified · Source version 59666 · locator 384
Mr. Kustoff (for himself and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
verified · Source version 59666 · locator 162
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy.
verified · Source version 59666 · locator 1415
a hospital with an area wage index (determined without regard to this clause) below the 25th percentile area wage index shall be increased by \1/2\ of the difference
verified · Source version 59668 · locator 6183
CMS is finalizing the proposal to discontinue the low wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
verified · Source version 59669 · locator 1242
Mr. Warner (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
Assessments
Kustoff publicly introduced the bipartisan Save Struggling Hospitals Act and official bill metadata shows he co-sponsored H.R. 8109 to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy, which directly matches the promise’s policy goal. But the evidence only shows introduction and committee referral, not enactment or an actual change in Medicare payment formulas, so the promise was materially advanced but not fulfilled.
Kustoff publicly introduced the bipartisan Save Struggling Hospitals Act, with a Senate companion, to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy and address the exact payment-formula issue in the claim. That is a concrete legislative attempt, but the evidence shows only introduction and committee referral, not enactment or implemented policy change, so the promise was not fully delivered.
Kustoff introduced the bipartisan Save Struggling Hospitals Act to codify a Medicare low-wage index hospital policy, directly addressing the promised rural and lower-wage hospital payment-formula issue. However, the evidence shows the bill was only introduced and referred to committee, with no enactment or completed Medicare payment-formula fix. This is a serious legislative effort in the same federal term, but the promised policy outcome was not delivered.