Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005

This bill aims to ensure that patients continue to have access to specialized care at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals by freezing a specific Medicare regulation known as the "75 percent rule." Under this rule, a certain percentage of a hospital’s patients must have specific, severe medical conditions for the facility to qualify for higher Medicare reimbursement rates; this bill would prevent that required percentage from rising above 50 percent for a two-year period.

For citizens, the practical impact is that more rehabilitation facilities would remain financially viable and eligible for Medicare funding, potentially preventing the closure of units that treat patients recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, or major trauma. Additionally, the bill would establish a National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation to advise Congress on how to improve Medicare coverage and research for rehabilitation services.