Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act of 2026 .

(a) In general. Section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(t) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (23) Payment for services furnished by mobile stroke units (A) In general In the case of an item or service furnished on or after January 1, 2027, by a mobile stroke unit (as defined in subparagraph (C)) operated by a hospital for purposes of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of symptoms of an acute stroke that would be considered a covered OPD service if such item or service were furnished by an outpatient department of a provider, such item or service shall be deemed to have been furnished by an outpatient department of provider located on the campus of such provider and payable under this subsection in lieu of any other payment for such item or service under this part (including any such payment under section 1834(l) or under any other payment basis under this part). (B) Payment increase for certain items and services In the case of an item or service described in subparagraph (A) that is furnished to an individual under an MSU rendezvous model, if such item or service is furnished in a rural area (or, in the case of such an item or service that is not furnished in a rural area, if such item or service is furnished to an individual where the transport of such individual by a provider or supplier of ambulance services originated in a rural area), the amount of payment for such item or service otherwise determined under this subsection shall be increased by 5 percent. (C) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) MSU rendezvous model The term MSU rendezvous model means a model of providing items or services described in subparagraph (A) under which a mobile stroke unit is dispatched to meet an individual being transported by a provider or supplier of ambulance services at a location between the location at which such transportation originated and the destination of such transportation in order to more quickly furnish such items and services. (ii) Mobile stroke unit The term mobile stroke unit has the meaning given such term for purposes of section 1834(m)(6). (iii) Rural area The term rural area has the meaning given such term in section 1886(d)(2)(D). .

(b) Exclusion from inpatient operating costs. Section 1886(a)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(a)(4) ) is amended by inserting services, items and services described in section 1833(t)(23)(A), after ambulance .