Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act

# Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act (S. 551) - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would adjust how Medicare reimburses hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii for outpatient services (care provided without overnight hospital stays). Specifically, it would allow these states to receive higher Medicare payments that account for their higher cost of living. Alaska and Hawaii face significantly elevated expenses for labor, supplies, and operations compared to the mainland, and this bill aims to reflect those differences in federal reimbursement rates. **Who it affects:** The bill directly affects Medicare patients in Alaska and Hawaii, as well as hospitals and outpatient care facilities in those states.

It could help ensure these facilities have adequate funding to operate and potentially improve access to care in remote areas. Indirectly, it affects Medicare's budget and potentially other healthcare costs in these regions. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (S. 551 in the 119th Congress), meaning it has been introduced but has not yet advanced to a full Senate vote. It was sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska.