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Rural Hospital Support: New Rules for Healthcare Access

This act aims to make it easier for rural hospitals to gain "critical access hospital" status under Medicare. This will help these hospitals better serve residents in rural areas by ensuring access to essential medical services, even if they don't meet previous distance requirements. This could mean better healthcare closer to home for many people.
Key points
Allows states to waive the 35-mile rule for certain rural hospitals, making it easier for them to become "critical access hospitals" and receive Medicare support.
Hospitals must demonstrate a need for services, show financial distress, and commit to opening new or expanding existing services like obstetrics or behavioral health.
A cap of 120 such hospitals nationwide and 5 per state is introduced, and the program is temporary, with a plan to transition to other payment models after 9 years.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Introduced
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 119_S_502
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Process start date: 2025-02-10
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_S_502.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2025-02-10.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Allows states to waive the 35-mile rule for certain rural hospitals, making it easier for them to become "critical access hospitals" and receive Medicare support.
  • Hospitals must demonstrate a need for services, show financial distress, and commit to opening new or expanding existing services like obstetrics or behavioral health.
  • A cap of 120 such hospitals nationwide and 5 per state is introduced, and the program is temporary, with a plan to transition to other payment models after 9 years.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Introduced.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-23.

CATEGORIES

Health