Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025

This bill would temporarily let more rural hospitals qualify for special Medicare payments called critical access hospital status. Right now, hospitals can only get this status if they are far enough away from other hospitals or were approved before 2006. The bill would also allow small rural hospitals to qualify if they serve areas short on doctors or many low-income patients, have lost money for two years in a row, and promise to provide needed services. This new option would last for nine years, and government agencies would study the effects and help hospitals transition to different payment systems.

Your Vote