Legislation Introduced in House Would Let Rural Hospitals Use Pass-Through Funds for Anesthesiologists

The co-chairs of the Congressional Rural Health Coalition recently introduced H.R. 3859, The Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act, which includes a rural pass-through provision for anesthesiologists, according to an ASA release.

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Under current Medicare policy, certain small rural hospitals may use Part A funds on a “pass-through” basis to pay for the services of anesthesiologist assistants and nurse anesthetists. When the policy was created in the 1980s, it did not include a provision that would permit hospitals to use pass-through funds for anesthesiologists.

The ASA believes allowing hospitals to use pass-through funds for anesthesiologists would increase patient access to anesthesiology care in medically underserved areas throughout the U.S.

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