February 11, 2026
Mr. Beyer (for himself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for support to facility-based providers through contracts with quality improvement organizations.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Providing for support to facility-based providers through contracts with quality improvement organizations
(a) QIO function
Section 1154(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320c–3(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(19)
The organization shall provide support to facility-based providers (as defined in section 1862(g)(3)(B)) to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events to mitigate physical and chronic risks to such providers and their patients.
(b) Transfer of funds for QIO support
Section 1862(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
(A)
The Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under section 1817 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account, of $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended, for purposes of requiring organizations described in paragraph (1) to provide to a facility-based provider (as defined in subparagraph (B)) support for the purposes described in section 1154(a)(19).
(B)
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term facility-based provider means—
(i)
a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e));
(ii)
a psychiatric hospital (as defined in section 1861(f));
(iii)
a skilled nursing facility (as defined in section 1861(j));
(iv)
a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm));
(v)
a long-term care hospital (as defined in section 1861(ccc));
(vi)
a rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(2)); or
(vii)
an inpatient rehabilitation facility (as defined in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(ii)).