Bill · H.R. 5821· House(119-HR-5821)
Rural Hospital Fairness Act
- Introduced
- 10/24/2025
- Last activity
- 10/24/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Sponsored by
- Doug LaMalfa
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Rural Hospital Fairness Act. It aims to change the Social Security Act regarding how certain hospitals are treated under Medicare. Specifically, it allows certain facilities to continue being treated as critical access hospitals. To qualify, a facility must have been designated as a critical access hospital before January 1, 2002. It also must have been certified as one by December 31, 2024. Finally, it must be located in a county where no other hospital, critical access hospital, or rural emergency hospital is located.
Yes· 3 of 16
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+9
Directly benefits residents of remote rural counties by protecting their only local hospital from losing critical access status.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+8
The legislation ensures that qualifying rural facilities retain their critical access hospital status, preserving vital healthcare services in isolated areas.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+7
Seniors heavily rely on Medicare and local critical access hospitals for ongoing medical care in rural regions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2: This provision allows certain facilities to keep their critical access hospital status even if they do not meet the standard location requirements. This is a positive for people living in the area because it helps keep established healthcare facilities running in communities where no other hospitals exist.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- There are no negative impacts explicitly found within the text of this bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+9Good For Retirees+7Good For Seniors+7Good For Farmers+4Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Middle Aged+4Good For People With Disabilities+4Good For Children+3Good For Men+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Women+3Good For Young Adults+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+8Increases Medicare Funding+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- 10/24/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House