Bills · S 2743
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2743Health
Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act of 2025
INTRO SEP 9· LAST ACTION SEP 9
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it could significantly change the financial situation for hospitals, especially those known as "safety-net" hospitals that provide critical care to vulnerable communities. If passed, it would remove a key federal restriction that currently limits how much extra funding (DSH payments) a hospital can get from Medicaid based on its specific uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. This means hospitals could potentially receive more funding, which could help them stay afloat, expand services, or avoid closures, particularly in underserved areas.
Without this bill, the current limits would remain, potentially continuing financial pressure on these hospitals. Voters should care because stronger safety-net hospitals can mean better access to healthcare for low-income communities, while their financial struggles can lead to reduced services, longer wait times, or even facility closures, impacting overall public health and access to care.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
The bill removes the federal provision that limits a hospital's total Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to its uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients.
This allows states more flexibility to pay hospitals DSH funds above their direct uncompensated care costs for these specific patient populations.
PROVISION 02
Payments from Medicare and private insurance plans are now explicitly included when calculating payments received by a hospital for services to Medicaid and uninsured patients, thereby reducing the amount considered "uncompensated."
This ensures all payment sources are factored in, potentially leading to a more precise, and in some cases, lower calculation of uncompensated care.
PROVISION 03
The bill allows costs for Medicaid-eligible patients who have Medicare or private insurance as primary coverage to count towards uncompensated care, but only if the hospital still incurred costs exceeding all payments for those services.
This broadens the scope of patients whose "under-compensated" care can justify DSH payments, potentially increasing a hospital's calculated uncompensated burden.
PROVISION 04
States can use unspent DSH funds from Medicaid state plan rate years beginning on or after October 1, 2021, and before the bill's enactment, under the new, modified DSH payment rules.
This provides states with an opportunity to disburse additional funds to hospitals, helping them address past financial shortfalls.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Indiana
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
99
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSSEP 9
Introduced in Senate
SEP 9
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2743
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedSep 9, 2025
Last actionSep 9, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 9, 2025
Senate BillS 2743Health
Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act of 2025
INTRODUCED SEP 9, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 9, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
