H.R. 1831 – Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:22 PM UTC

The Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2017 changes the definition of a Medicare‑dependent hospital so that hospitals located in states that have no rural areas can qualify, provided they meet the existing eligibility criteria. It also directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to set up a system to pay back any Medicare shortfalls those hospitals experience because of the rule change.

Key Provisions

Amends the Social Security Act to add a new condition allowing hospitals in all‑urban states (states with no rural area) to be considered Medicare‑dependent hospitals if they meet the same criteria as rural hospitals.
Requires the HHS Secretary, within 120 days of the law’s enactment, to create a process to reimburse any underpayments to hospitals that result from this definition change.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

April 11, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 30, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

March 30, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

April 11, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 30, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1831

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 30, 2017

Mr. MacArthur (for himself, Mr. Pascrell, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit hospitals in all-urban States to be considered Medicare dependent hospitals, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2017.

2.

Permitting hospitals in all-urban States to be considered medicare dependent hospitals

(a)

In general

Section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(G)(iv)(I)) is amended to read as follows:

(I)

that—

(aa)

is located in a rural area; or

(bb)

for discharges occurring on or after January 1, 2011, is located in a State with no rural area (as defined in paragraph (2)(D)) and satisfies any of the criteria in subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of paragraph (8)(E)(ii),

.

(b)

Process for recalculating payments

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish and implement a process under which the Secretary shall reimburse hospitals impacted by the amendment made by subsection (a) for any underpayments under title XVIII of the Social Security Act that are a result of the implementation of such amendment.