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119-hr-1480119th CongressWALLET

Rural Health Innovation Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Kustoff, David [R-TN-8]

Introduced

Summary

Expands rural emergency and urgent care access by creating two HRSA-run grant programs to help rural clinics and local health departments offer walk-in urgent care, triage, and staging for air or ambulance transport. It would fund five-year grants and program oversight through the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy.

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  • Rural clinics and community health centers would be eligible for the Rural Health Center Innovation Awards Program to set up or maintain Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that serve as walk-in urgent care and triage hubs. First-year awards would top out at $750,000 for startups and $500,000 for existing centers, with renewals through year five.
  • Local rural health departments would be eligible for the Rural Health Department Enhancement Program to add emergency services, triage and transport support, primary care, equipment, and limited hiring and outreach. Annual grants would be capped at $500,000 and include hiring and outreach limits such as a 3 percent cap on provider hiring.
  • Patients in rural areas would gain more local capacity for labs, X-ray, cardiac monitoring and extended hours to stabilize patients and speed transfers to emergency departments.

*Would authorize $25.0 million per year for each program from 2026 through 2030, totaling about $50.0 million annually and increasing federal spending during that period.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Grants to expand rural urgent care

If enacted, HHS would give 5-year grants to set up or keep rural health centers open for walk-in urgent care and triage. Eligible groups include existing FQHCs or Rural Health Clinics, or entities that agree to create or convert to one. First-year awards could be up to $500,000 for existing centers, or up to $750,000 for new centers. Years 2–5 would be capped at $500,000 and set partly by last year’s patient volume and treatments. Funds could extend hours, pay for construction or renovations, and other operating needs. Centers would need clinicians and basic tools like labs, x-ray, and cardiac monitors. Getting a grant would not cause a center to lose FQHC or RHC status. The program would be authorized at $25 million each year for fiscal years 2026–2030.

Grants to strengthen rural health departments

If enacted, HHS would award competitive grants to rural local health departments for emergency services, triage and transport, primary care, and ED-like services. Grants would run annually for up to five years, with up to $500,000 per year. Year 1 would be based on setup costs; years 2–5 would consider last year’s patient volume and treatment types. Funds could buy equipment like labs, x-ray, and cardiac monitors, and support limited hiring and outreach. No more than 3% could be used for hiring each year, and in the first two years, no more than 3% could be used for outreach. The program would be authorized at $25 million each year for fiscal years 2026–2030.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kustoff, David [R-TN-8]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 2/21/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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