Bipartisan Bill Aims to Prevent Rural Hospital Closures by Extending Special Medicare Funding
Rural hospitals are often one of the largest employers in small towns. When a hospital closes, it can devastate the local economy, hurting small businesses that depend on hospital employees as customers and on the hospital's presence to attract residents and workers to the area. Keeping these hospitals open helps stabilize the broader rural economy.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act (H.R. 7727) to create a new “In Character” Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation. The bill allows HHS to designate facilities as CAHs for up to three years if they meet specific rural criteria.
Reporting on the closure of 10 rural hospitals in Missouri and the resulting healthcare deserts. The article provides context for Rep. Mark Alford’s introduction of the Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act, which seeks to provide a financial lifeline to facilities serving underserved populations.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act
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