A Democratic bill with 6 Republican cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
The "Save Struggling Hospitals Act" aims to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. This legislation seeks to codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy. Specifically, it addresses how the area wage index is adjusted for hospitals with low wages. The adjustment is intended for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2019. The bill also includes provisions regarding budget neutrality for these adjustments.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?
The bill increases Medicare payments to hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill requires that the wage index adjustments be applied in a budget-neutral manner.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill supports hospitals that serve low-wage areas, which often serve low-income populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Wage Index Increase for Low-Wage Hospitals: Hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile will have their index increased by 1/2 of the difference between their index and the 25th percentile index. This is found in Section 2, clause (v)(I).
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Protection Against Wage Index Decreases: The bill prevents budget neutrality adjustments from decreasing the area wage index for hospitals that have an index below the 75th percentile. This is found in Section 2, clause (v)(II)(aa).
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Protection Against Significant Wage Index Drops: The bill ensures that any adjustments made for budget neutrality do not result in a hospital's wage index being less than 95 percent of what it was in the previous fiscal year. This is found in Section 2, clause (v)(II)(bb).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Budget Neutrality Requirement: The adjustments made to the area wage index must be applied in a budget-neutral manner. This is found in Section 2, clause (v)(II).
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill supports hospitals that serve low-wage areas, which often serve low-income populations. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Protecting low-wage hospitals can help maintain essential medical infrastructure in rural or underserved areas. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill protects the Medicare funding structure that supports healthcare for seniors.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill requires that the wage index adjustments be applied in a budget-neutral manner. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides financial protections for hospitals by preventing significant drops in their Medicare wage index.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill increases Medicare payments to hospitals with an area wage index below the 25th percentile. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By stabilizing the financial position of low-wage hospitals, the bill helps ensure the continued availability of healthcare services.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Supporting low-wage hospitals can help stabilize healthcare access for low-income communities.
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Tommy TubervilleRepublican · Alabama
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi