Grants to assist rural hospitals

The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330A–2 (42 U.S.C. 254c–1b) the following:

330A–3.

Grants to assist rural hospitals

(a)

Authority To make grants

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may make grants under this section to rural hospitals— (1)for projects to acquire, repair, and upgrade the systems, facilities, and equipment of rural hospitals; and (2)to provide financial assistance to be used toward the operational costs of rural hospitals, including payroll expenses (except payroll expenses associated with hospital leadership positions) and debt payments. (b)

Applications

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a rural hospital shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (1)a description of the projects and expenses that will receive funding under the grant; (2)a description of the manner in which the projects and expenses funded under the grant will address the financial needs of the hospital; (3)a description of how the projects and expenses funded under the grant will help ensure that residents of rural areas maintain access to hospital services; (4)a plan for sustaining projects and covering expenses at the hospital after Federal support under this section has ended; and (5)such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (c)

Maximum aggregate grant amount

A rural hospital may receive not more that $5,000,000, in the aggregate, in grant funds under this section for any five-year period. (d)

Maintenance of effort

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, local, and Tribal funds available for the grant purposes described in subsection (a). (e)

Report to Congress

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the activities and outcomes of the grant program carried out under this section, including the impact of projects funded under this section on improving the financial viability of the grant recipients and ensuring that residents of rural areas maintain access to hospital services. (f)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Rural hospital

The term rural hospital means a hospital that is located at least 15 miles from the nearest hospital and at least 20 miles from the nearest urbanized area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census). Such term includes public and private hospitals. (2)

Hospital leadership position

The term hospital leadership position has such meaning as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation. (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000, in the aggregate, for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2025.