Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025

Increased Healthcare Access: The bill allows certain hospitals to be certified as critical access hospitals even if they don't meet the 35-mile rule, provided the State certifies them as necessary providers for residents in the area (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)(III)).

Expansion of Essential Services: Hospitals seeking this designation must commit to opening or expanding a service line that is in high demand or limited supply, such as obstetrics or behavioral health care services (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)(v)(II)).

Financial Stability for Specific Facilities: The provision targets hospitals that have experienced two consecutive years of negative operating margins, potentially providing a path toward financial solvency (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)(iv)).

Limited Availability of Designations: There is a cap on the number of these certifications available, limiting the Secretary to no more than 120 facilities total and no more than 5 facilities within any one State (Section 2(a)(1)(G)(i)).

Risk of Certification Revocation: Hospitals may lose their certification if they fail to submit required annual reports or notice of material changes to their service lines (Section 2(a)(1)(H)(ii)).

Temporary Nature of Designation: The authority to certify hospitals under this specific provision expires after nine years, which may create future uncertainty for facilities relying on this designation (Section 2(a)(1)(G)(iii)).