A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites Act" or the "PEAKS Act," aims to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The primary goal is to update the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals. It specifically addresses adjustments for mountainous terrain or areas where only secondary roads are available. The bill proposes changing certain distance requirements from 35 miles to a 15-mile drive for these specific conditions. Additionally, it provides a method for hospitals to be deemed as meeting certain distance requirements if new facilities are located within a specific range.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets improving ambulance service accessibility for people living in remote and mountainous rural areas.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves emergency ambulance access for residents in mountainous or remote terrain by updating fee schedules.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?
The bill updates the Medicare fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Updated Ambulance Fee Schedules: The bill updates the fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals in cases of mountainous terrain or areas with only secondary roads available (Section 2).
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Simplified Status for Certain Hospitals: Hospitals that currently meet specific distance requirements for mountainous terrain or secondary roads can be deemed to meet the 15-mile distance requirement if a new hospital or facility is located between 10 and 15 miles away (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets improving ambulance service accessibility for people living in remote and mountainous rural areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Increased healthcare access can benefit many Native American communities located in remote or mountainous areas. Would retired people be better off under this? — Improved Medicare-funded services provide better security for retirees in remote areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides support for critical access hospital operations. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural residents, including farmers, may benefit from more accessible emergency services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved healthcare access can assist low-income households in remote areas. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill supports Medicare-related services which benefit the senior population.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves emergency ambulance access for residents in mountainous or remote terrain by updating fee schedules. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill updates the Medicare fee schedule for ambulance services provided by critical access hospitals.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports rural healthcare infrastructure by adjusting ambulance service distance requirements.
- 10/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/5/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Josh HarderDemocrat · California
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Riley MooreRepublican · West Virginia