Contact Congress about S. 553: SOLES Act

Some remote hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii would get a Medicare payment floor for outpatient care. Medicare would have to pay at least 94% of reasonable costs for covered services. Patient copays would stay the same.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

SOLES Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Latest action on S. 553: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects sole community hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii and the Medicare patients who use their outpatient services. Hospitals could get higher Medicare payments when current payments do not cover enough of their reasonable costs. Patients would not see higher copays because of this bill. Medicare could spend more because the bill does not require cuts elsewhere to pay for the increase.

Why this matters: Some remote hospitals may struggle to cover the cost of outpatient care, and this bill would give certain Alaska and Hawaii hospitals a payment floor. These hospitals can be important when they are the only practical place nearby for emergency or outpatient care. The bill could make their finances more stable. It could also raise Medicare spending, but the bill does not state how much.

Key provisions in S. 553

• The bill applies only to sole community hospitals in Alaska or Hawaii. Medicare law already defines which hospitals count as sole community hospitals.
• It covers outpatient department services paid through Medicare’s hospital outpatient payment system. These are hospital services where the patient does not stay overnight.
• Medicare must raise the payment if it is below 94% of the hospital’s reasonable costs for the covered outpatient care.
• The bill sets the floor at 94% of reasonable costs. It does not promise to pay the full cost.
• Patients would not owe higher copays for these services because of this bill.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 553

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 553

What is S. 553?

Some remote hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii would get a Medicare payment floor for outpatient care. Medicare would have to pay at least 94% of reasonable costs for covered services. Patient copays would stay the same.

How do I support or oppose S. 553?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 553?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 553 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.