Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced
Summary
Zero‑percent loans for eligible rural hospitals would fund replacement, upgrades, or renovations to preserve local access to primary and emergency care.
Show full summary
- Hospitals: Eligible hospitals in counties with under 20,000 people or that meet distance, terrain, or status rules and that have been licensed at least 30 years could apply for these loans.
- Patients and communities: Applicants must show the loan would improve access to primary care and emergency services and that at least 50 percent of recent inpatient days, discharges, or outpatient visits served Medicare, Medicaid, or self‑pay patients, focusing support on hospitals serving vulnerable populations.
- Loan terms and supports: Loans would carry 0% interest for the first 5 years and principal would be amortized over up to 40 years; a one‑time 5‑year zero‑interest renewal is possible under conditions and hospitals could later be refinanced into the standard community facilities loan program, and recipients may access technical assistance from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and USDA rural development programs.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal help to run rural hospitals
If enacted, hospitals that get these loans would be eligible for federal technical help during the five-year zero-interest period and any qualifying renewal. Covered help would include HRSA's Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals and USDA's Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program with the National Rural Health Association. Accepting available federal technical assistance is a condition for some renewal options.
Low-cost loans to rural hospitals
If enacted, USDA would offer temporary 0% interest loans to eligible rural hospitals for building or renovating facilities. Loans would carry 0% interest for the first five years and require principal repayment during that period. Loan amortization would be for up to 40 years or the facility's expected life. After year five the Secretary would assess finances and the loan could be refinanced at the program's prevailing rate with interest only on the unpaid balance and no retroactive interest on amounts paid during the zero-percent period.
Who qualifies for rural hospital loans
If enacted, hospitals would qualify only if they meet location, longevity, patient-mix, and financial tests. The hospital campus must be in a county with fewer than 20,000 people or be 35 miles from another hospital (15 miles in mountainous or limited-road areas), or be a Critical Access or Rural Emergency Hospital. Hospitals must have been licensed in the community at least 30 years and show at least 50% of recent patient use from Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay. Applicants must show need and generally have at least 30 days cash on hand and a projected DSCR of 1.2; the Secretary may waive some requirements for strong community impact.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov