Bill · S. 1282· Senate(119-S-1282)
Rural Development Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 4/3/2025
- Last activity
- 4/3/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Rounds
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to codify the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program under the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with establishing and maintaining this program to provide tailored technical assistance and training to eligible hospital facilities in rural areas. The program aims to help these facilities identify development needs, manage financial strategies, and apply for USDA loans and grants. Specific goals include improving operational efficiency, preventing hospital closures, and strengthening rural health care delivery. The Secretary is also required to conduct outreach to encourage participation and submit annual progress reports to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
The bill provides vital support to maintain and strengthen essential health care services in rural areas.
Does this invest in rural communities?+5
The bill supports rural development by strengthening the financial and operational capacity of rural hospitals.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill provides technical assistance to help rural hospitals maintain services, expand facilities, and increase telehealth capabilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Health Care Services: The program provides assistance for development needs such as constructing, expanding, or renovating facilities, increasing telehealth capabilities, and upgrading information systems like electronic health records (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Financial Stability of Local Hospitals: The program aims to improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of eligible facilities while working to prevent their closure (Section 2(c)(1)-(2)).
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Increased Access to Funding: The program helps eligible hospital facilities identify and apply for assistance from various Department of Agriculture loan and grant programs (Section 2(b)(3) and Section 2(c)(4)).
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Targeted Support for Vulnerable Areas: The Secretary may prioritize facilities based on their financial vulnerability, their location in health professional shortage or medically underserved areas, and whether they serve medically underserved populations (Section 2(d)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Funding Scope: The authorization of appropriations is limited to not more than $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 (Section 2(f)).
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+7Good For Low Income Households+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- 7/27/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/3/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont