US SB2628

Creates a new "catastrophic specialty hospital" designation under Medicare for long-term care hospitals that specialize in treating spinal cord injuries and acquired brain injuries, exempting them from standard prospective payment system rules

Requires qualifying hospitals to have at least 80% of discharges classified under spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury diagnosis codes over a 3-year period, with minimum thresholds of 175 discharges annually in each category

Mandates hospitals offer a continuum of care including inpatient, outpatient, and long-term health and wellness services, with at least 30% of patients admitted from outside the hospital's state

Requires demonstrated commitment to neurorehabilitation research through dedicated research personnel, peer-reviewed publications, clinical training programs, or approved medical residency programs in neurology or physical medicine

Designations last for 3 years and are subject to review and redesignation, with hospitals given 60 days to submit additional compliance information if initially found not meeting criteria