Bill · H.R. 6804· House(119-HR-6804)
Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/17/2025
- Last activity
- 12/17/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Sponsored by
- Carol Miller
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 3
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Rural Hospital Flexibility Act of 2025 aims to amend the Social Security Act to strengthen Medicare rural hospital flexibility program grants. This bill expands the types of support available to critical access hospitals, certified rural health clinics, and rural emergency hospitals. It introduces new provisions for technical assistance, data analysis, and evaluation efforts to support existing grant recipients. The legislation also updates how State Offices of Rural Health use funds, including for computer hardware, software, and staff training. Furthermore, it establishes new rural health transformation grants to assist providers transitioning to new healthcare models. Finally, it allows for technical assistance specifically for hospitals seeking or maintaining rural emergency hospital designations.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+8
The bill directly targets the strengthening and transformation of healthcare services for rural populations.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
The bill enhances healthcare access in rural areas through transformation grants and technical assistance for various hospital models.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+6
The bill specifically provides support for services related to behavioral health and substance use disorders.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Quality and Health Services: The bill expands support for critical access hospitals, certified rural health clinics, and rural emergency hospitals to include quality improvement, performance improvements, addressing population health, and providing services for behavioral health and substance use disorders (Section 2, paragraph 1).
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Technical Assistance for Grant Recipients: The Secretary may award grants to help entities carry out other existing grants by providing technical assistance, data analysis, and evaluation (Section 2, paragraph 3).
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Improved Hospital Operations and Training: State Offices of Rural Health can use funds to purchase computer software and hardware for eligible small rural hospitals, and to provide education and training for staff on billing, operations, and quality improvement (Section 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph E).
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Support for Healthcare Transitions: The bill allows for 5-year grants to help providers transition to new models, such as rural emergency hospitals, extended stay clinics, freestanding emergency departments, and the integration of telehealth or oral health services (Section s 2, paragraph 9, subparagraph A).
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Technical Assistance for Rural Emergency Hospitals: The Secretary may award grants to provide technical assistance, data analysis, and support to hospitals that are seeking or currently designated as rural emergency hospitals (Section 2, paragraph 10, subparagraph A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Application Requirements for Transformation Grants: To receive rural health transformation grants, providers must undergo a detailed application process that requires describing how their transition will meet local needs and be sustainable, and must secure support from local organizations or the State as well as letters of support from key State payers like Medicaid and private insurance (Section 2, paragraph 9, subparagraph C).
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Application Processes for Technical Assistance: Entities seeking grants for technical assistance or data analysis must submit applications to the Secretary in a time and manner specified by the Secretary (Section 2, paragraph 3 and paragraph 10, subparagraph B).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Improves Mental Health Access+6Improves Opioid Crisis Response+5Increases Medicare Funding+5Improves Pandemic Preparedness+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+8Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Retirees+4Good For Seniors+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+3
- 9/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/17/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania