Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2023

The Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2023 removes a Medicare requirement that hospitals needed a physician's certification within 96 hours for inpatient services. This change directly affects critical access hospitals (CAHs), which are typically small, rural facilities serving remote communities. The bill amends Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act to delete the 96-hour certification rule, effective January 1, 2024. This reduces administrative burden for CAHs by eliminating a specific documentation step for patient admissions. The policy change streamlines Medicare billing processes without altering payment rates or other core hospital services.