LeadingAge Building Momentum for Observation Stays Bill

LeadingAge continues to advocate for the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (HR 3954), which would require all days spent in a hospital, regardless of inpatient or outpatient observation status, to count toward the three-day qualifying stay required for Medicare Part A coverage of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay. This advocacy included mobilizing member engagement during our recent LeadingAge Lobby Day and meeting separately with a key congressional office as part of a broader advocacy coalition.

The House version of the bill was originally introduced this congress by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Glen Thompson (R-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Ron Estes (R-KS) and currently has 33 co-sponsors. We hope to see a companion bill in the Senate soon.

LeadingAge will continue working with congressional offices to build support for this and the forthcoming Senate bill.