What does Preamble of ICU Bed Act of 2026 do?

This bill amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act. It requires hospitals to report intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time. This reporting is stipulated as a condition of participation in the Medicare program.

What does SHORT TITLE. of ICU Bed Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Improving Care Utilization through Bed Exchange and Data Sharing Act of 2026.

What does REQUIRING HOSPITALS TO REPORT BED AVAILABILITY IN REAL TIME AS of ICU Bed Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 1866 of the Social Security Act to require hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals to comply with real-time intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability reporting requirements. These requirements include participating in a shared data reporting system to provide real-time ICU bed availability information to other hospitals in the same region. Hospitals must also maintain a shared strategy for efficiently transferring patients between hospitals when capacity is reached or nearing capacity. The Secretary is tasked with establishing regions for these requirements, considering geography, population, and travel time between hospitals. This section also amends Section 319C-2 of the Public Health Service Act to include activities related to efficient patient transfer between facilities during public health emergencies. Funding for the Public Health Service Act is extended through fiscal year 2031.

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ICU Bed Act of 2026

Last updated: 4/14/2026 · Introduced: 4/14/2026

Author: Jay Obernolte (R-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

Hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals must report intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time through a shared data reporting system.
The bill establishes regional boundaries for ICU bed reporting and patient transfer strategies, considering factors like geography and travel time.
Funding for the Public Health Service Act related to patient transfer during emergencies is extended through fiscal year 2031.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 1 more.

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