This bill seeks to codify the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture, establishing it to provide tailored technical assistance and training to eligible rural hospital facilities. The program is designed to help these facilities identify and address critical development needs, improve financial and business strategies, and navigate USDA loan and grant programs. The primary goals of the Program are to improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of eligible facilities, prevent their closure, and strengthen healthcare delivery in rural areas. Assistance can cover various development needs, including constructing or renovating facilities, increasing telehealth capabilities, and upgrading health care information systems. An eligible hospital facility is broadly defined to include various types of rural hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and community health centers located in rural areas. When selecting participants, the Secretary of Agriculture must prioritize facilities that are current borrowers or grant recipients from the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, or Rural Utilities Service. Additional considerations for selection include the financial vulnerability and physical state of facilities, their electronic health record needs, and whether they are located in a health professional shortage area or serve a medically underserved population. The bill mandates annual reporting to Congress on the Program's progress, outcomes, and effectiveness, and authorizes appropriations of up to $2,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out its provisions.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Agriculture and Food
Rural Development Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-1282| Senate
| Updated: 4/3/2025
This bill seeks to codify the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture, establishing it to provide tailored technical assistance and training to eligible rural hospital facilities. The program is designed to help these facilities identify and address critical development needs, improve financial and business strategies, and navigate USDA loan and grant programs. The primary goals of the Program are to improve the long-term financial position and operational efficiency of eligible facilities, prevent their closure, and strengthen healthcare delivery in rural areas. Assistance can cover various development needs, including constructing or renovating facilities, increasing telehealth capabilities, and upgrading health care information systems. An eligible hospital facility is broadly defined to include various types of rural hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and community health centers located in rural areas. When selecting participants, the Secretary of Agriculture must prioritize facilities that are current borrowers or grant recipients from the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, or Rural Utilities Service. Additional considerations for selection include the financial vulnerability and physical state of facilities, their electronic health record needs, and whether they are located in a health professional shortage area or serve a medically underserved population. The bill mandates annual reporting to Congress on the Program's progress, outcomes, and effectiveness, and authorizes appropriations of up to $2,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out its provisions.