[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 171 (Thursday, October 16, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7143-S7144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL PROGRAM

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, keeping quantity and quality of 
healthcare in rural America is a constant responsibility of most 
Senators, because every Senator, even if you come from a high 
population State, you still have a lot of rural areas.
  So one of the things that I have been interested in is keeping 
hospital services available in rural areas, even if they have a hard 
time keeping their beds as part of their hospital.
  So, in December 2020, I was proud to sponsor and to pass into law the 
voluntary rural emergency hospital program under Medicare. CMS 
implemented this program 3 years later, in 2023.
  The rural emergency hospital program allows rural hospitals to 
voluntarily right-size their healthcare infrastructure, while 
maintaining essential medical services for their rural communities. It 
gives these hospitals the flexibility to operate without hospital 
inpatient services, while still retaining a 24/7 emergency department, 
ambulance services, outpatient services, and more.
  Today, 42 rural hospitals in 17 States have transitioned to a rural 
emergency hospital model and, hence, are still operating. Some States 
are still working to establish the necessary hospital licensing 
flexibility so that they can participate in this program.
  Rural emergency hospitals have been beneficial for many rural 
communities, and I want to give you three examples.
  In Friend, NE, going to the rural emergency hospital model has 
``meant a lifeline'' for that community.
  In Union Springs, AL, the rural emergency hospital model has allowed 
their hospital ``to remain open instead of leaving a void in the 
community.''
  In Scotland, SD, their rural emergency hospital will ``enhance local 
health services.''
  I will submit a longer list of examples of how rural emergency 
hospitals have benefited rural communities to date.
  I look forward to more rural hospitals converting in the near future.
  Given it has been 5 years since the program became law, I would like 
to better understand the challenges rural hospitals and communities 
face when considering rural emergency hospital programs. So I am 
pursuing getting that information because I am committed to ensuring 
the rural emergency hospital remains a viable tool for rural hospitals 
and their communities.
  I recently sent letters to existing rural emergency hospital CEOs and 
other rural healthcare leaders to get this information. I look forward 
to their feedback and continuing to strengthen rural healthcare, and I 
will keep my constituents in Iowa and my Senate colleagues so informed.

[[Page S7144]]

  I yield the floor.

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