H.R. 9642 — Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act

This section provides Medicare Part A payment on a reasonable cost basis, beginning one year after enactment, for anesthesia services furnished by an anesthesiologist in a qualifying rural subsection (d) hospital or critical access hospital. Qualifying hospitals must have employed or contracted with no more than one full-time equivalent anesthesiologist as of the date of enactment, maintained a surgical volume of 800 or fewer procedures in 2026 (and each subsequent year), and ensured that such anesthesiologists do not bill under Part B.