H.R. 9468, the STAR Act, advanced out of committee on July 15, 2026.
H.R. 9468 — STAR Act
What it does
This bill modifies Medicare payment rules for long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), extending and narrowing site-neutral payment reductions that were set to expire in 2032. It creates a new 'high acuity' exemption allowing certain LTCHs—particularly those that existed or were under construction before the bill's enactment—to avoid reduced Medicare payments if they treat patients with specific high-severity diagnoses. The bill effectively protects a subset of long-term care hospitals from payment cuts while maintaining cuts for newer facilities.
Quorum's transparency scan gave STAR Act a high transparency warning.
What happens next
H.R. 9468 advanced out of committee. Next stop: a floor vote.
Who is behind it
Filed by Kevin Hern. Cosponsored by Carol Miller, Lloyd Smucker, Mike Carey and Mike Kelly.
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